Reviews (295)

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Ah, yes, things are finally sorting themselves out. And yes, Estella is very discerning. Sharp as a tack, that one, and somewhat spoilt, but she has a good heart and a direct method of dealing with life.

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Ah, yes, you're right. I think it is time, too, and so does Estella. Am sorry your ISP is giving you such fits. *hugs*

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*sigh* You have the right of it. And somehow it makes me think of Denethor. We had a long discussion of Denethor today, in the LOTR literature class that I am co-teaching. Interestingly, the other teacher has a firmly movie-version Denethor in his mind, and even reading the book, his opinions were clearly coloured by the film depiction. Against that foil I could see more clearly Denethor as tragic figure, noble though fatally flawed. It made for a thought-provoking discussion.

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Yes, Paladin is thinking of Estella's money and her family's influence, I think, in his continuing struggle to keep the Tookland going. At least it wasn't ravaged by ruffians. Hmmm. Your solution sounds very plausible!

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True, this is one of the earliest, and Socks came not too long after. That's one reason why this one is being revised, and Socks in on the list for revision (why it's not posted here) to bring it more into line with the later stories. Ah, I love that song, bittersweet as it is. Lovely harmonies. Very sharp of you, to catch the edits! Ah, yes, "Farry and Ferdi go to Gondor" has been in the works a long time, along with a story of Marcho and Blanco, another of Bandobras, and the "new" story that popped up when I wasn't writing at all, but tantalised me when I was ill and exhausted, about Pippin's matchmaking on Nell and Ferdi's behalf. And I'd love to finish the story of Hally and Rosemary one of these days... As to that folder of possible AUs, it's there, waiting. However, some of the characters would be so very different, because of differences in other characters. I cannot quite imagine Ferdibrand, for example, or Reginard. In my brain they are the same people, only living in a parallel universe with a different history. Interesting problem. Author Reply: am rambling now, way too short on sleep. And then there's the story of Freddy and Mellie's move south, though I'd need a whole lot of medical advice/research for that one, to work out just what the Houses of Healing could do for a ticky heart that the local Shire healer couldn't do...

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*sigh* Am on my way to bed but will try to append a couple of links. Pippin grows in wisdom and does not die hating his father, I'm glad to say, though he establishes firm boundaries and will not cross them; thus, he never goes back to the Tookland while his father is living, but they do meet and talk when Farry is about two years old, and make as much peace as they can. And yes, there is redemption, even for a stubborn old hobbit and an independent young one. But the link will have to wait for morning, for I have only one eye half-open. *hugs* Bless you for being brave enough to read, and bold enough to speak. Author Reply: p.s. if you were to read "A Healer's Tale" you'd see a young, unencumbered, and loving Paladin, before becoming Thain stole his joy. In "Pearl of Great Price" you see some of the strains on Paladin, and in "Thain" they become even clearer, though it is more Pippin's story than Paladin's; and "Thain" shows how Paladin loved his son even though he didn't always know what to do. I've talked about this with Marigold before, and in a folder I have an entirely different cycle of Shire stories where the Thainship is completely different, and Paladin and Pippin have a warm and loving relationship that doesn't change when Pippin is twenty-five, but continues to Paladin's death. Someday perhaps I'll be able to write those stories, but the Muse is sort of stuck in the current cycle until we reach some sort of finishing point. (Finishing "Thain", for one, and another story of Ferdi and Nell that drafted itself a few months ago, and "Ferdi and Farry go to Gondor" which is three-quarters written, and possibly the story of Ferdi's sister, which was started but laid gently on the shelf some time ago.) And just to let you know, it breaks my heart, too, and yet it gives great scope for exploring relationships and for character development, hard-hearted as that may sound. But a few specific links tomorrow, truly, if all goes well. (And if you haven't completely lost confidence in me. Yikes.) Author Reply: It seems I get most of my computer time these days when I can hardly keep my eyes open. Up past bedtime, and the alarm's due to ring in 5 hours. I've got to hit the pillow. It struck me that one of the links I was going to paste here is a later chapter in this very story. Another chapter I meant to link to--where Pippin looks in the Yellow Book on his first evening as Thain, and finds that his father has not only not crossed his name out of the Book, but wrote in Faramir's name to celebrate his grandson's birth; and in another scene speaks with joy to Eglantine about their son--is in a story that's been taken offline. That's not much help. But in short, Paladin was a loving father--perhaps too loving, unwise in indulging Pippin and allowing his wife and daughters to spoil him, making the lad difficult as a tween. And then Paladin never expected to be Thain. His grandfather had renounced the Thainship when he'd left the Great Smials, but somehow the paper was lost. It was a terrible surprise to Paladin to hear that he'd follow Ferumbras. And then when he took over the Tookland, he found that the Thain's fortune had disappeared, and he had next to no money to accomplish his duties. He got bad advice, to go on and pretend as if nothing was wrong, and it was a terrible strain. It didn't help that Pippin was not acting as his father's prop and stay, but rather getting into scrapes and generating gossip with his actions. And then the last straw: Paladin had hopes for Estella's dowry, to help the financial situation, and then Pippin had to fall in love with the daughter of a comfortable (but not wealthy) farmer! When Pippin refused to return to the Great Smials, it tore the heart out of him. Worse, he flew into a rage, and burst a small blood vessel. The resulting stroke changed him greatly. However, he never stopped loving his son; he just didn't know how to let Pippin be himself, and that's why Pippin maintained his distance for the rest of Paladin's Thainship. That probably doesn't help you much, but it's the storyline that runs through *this* version of Shire stories, though not the (unpublished as yet) alternate version. Author Reply: I got your email, and the Muse is chewing over the contents... no time for writing , the next day or two, but that'll give it time to percolate in the back of my brain. *hugs*

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Know what you mean. (wince)

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Ah, so that's why "tubers" sounded so familiar! Thanks! I'd imagine that he wouldn't have much chance to get addicted to the medicine... it's probably very rare and costly and Ossilan would use it sparingly indeed. And it's always nice to hear from you.

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I'm glad you're hanging in there. There are a few difficult chapters to get through, but a lot of joy ahead.

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Alas, poor Paladin! Yes, the new medicine is helping, I'm glad to say. It was a dangerous gamble on the healer's part, but it worked out.

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Alas... Hope you made it home again ok!

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Thanks! Alas, poor Paladin, I knew him well...

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I remember reading a book about a more recent blizzard, in the 30s or 40s, I think, that hit Minnesota around Veteran's Day. A lot of hunters and fishermen perished, I think, and a whole train full of people were stranded.

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Yes, a bad time. You're right, this is the start of his serious lung problems, compounding the damage done by the troll. This is also the start of Ferdi's downfall--he was supposed to be Pippin's escort, and Paladin (unfairly, perhaps) blames him for Pippin going out into an ice storm alone. Are you coming down Labor Day? We're still planning to do tea but not sure which day.

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LOL! How often we take the familiar for granted!

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LOL, trading for brandy, imagine it! (I love the image of that painting in my mind's eye. Sure wish I could draw...)

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LOL, they really do! (And if Merry did suffer from an anniversary illness, I'm sure that Pippin would be there.) Thanks!

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Aw, thanks. Hmm. Good, hard work. I'll pass that on to the Powers That Be. *g*

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So very true. *hugs*

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I had forgotten what JRRT said about the blowing of the horn, but you've reminded me. I'm certainly glad that I didn't get it the other way round in the writing! I think of the ceremony at the hospice when my dad died. They covered him with a special memorial quilt, and he looked as if he was sleeping. They brought a bottle of Asti and one of sparkling cider and we toasted him (the children too) and told stories and laughed and cried together--more laughter than tears, for the stories were all the funniest and fondest ones; and they left us alone until the glasses were empty and we had no more words to say, only hugs. It was a lovely leave-taking, bittersweet, but a good way to say good-bye, if one had no choice but to say it. Yes, you caught that nicely, about Pippin's jests. It's not always easy to manage that hobbity custom of speaking lightly, but I do my best.

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Hullo, Pearl! The little ones are sleeping in this a.m., and so I am stealing some time from the needs of the day to answer reviews, and hopefully leave a few! (Read the latest chapter of your and Golden's story yesterday but got interrupted in reviewing.) It is always nice to hear from you, even if you are playing catch-up! I used to try to leave a review after every chapter I read, but lately I only do that when reading each-chapter-as-it's-posted, and on stories with lots of chapters already posted when I start my reading, it's a little more hit-or-miss. (It used to be much easier when the little ones took a daily nap and I had more time for reading and writing!) There is sorrow in life, but there is also joy, and the two tend to alternate... I have tried to write "real" as much as possible, over the years, and while sometimes I have to contrive a bit to get a satisfying ending, I still hope that the stories reflect real life, and real issues. It is always an honour to receive one of your MEWD pats on the back.

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Yes, or at least Pippin does. Diamond is not yet old enough for more than sisterly love... but Pippin is willing to wait. I don't remember where that idea came from, originally, but it was some novel or other. Little Women, perhaps? Or maybe Anne of Green Gables? Not sure. Sometimes comfort is all we can offer, and it never seems enough, even then. Thanks!

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Thanks for the good word! Glad to have you along.

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Yes. You know, when I wrote this, I wasn't sure if Frodo had a foreseeing of this day (what agony that would be! and not to be able to tell Merry about it...) or if he just knew that Merry would be dogged by Shadow the rest of his life, and that life has its inevitable sorrows, even tragedies. Since he did have a foreseeing of Sam's children (though didn't he name them a little out of order? I think so, anyhow), it's possible he knew this day would happen. *sigh* But there is the Feast to come, and if it's anything like we have here, since there's no marrying or giving in marriage in the beyond, according to something I read somewhere, it won't matter to Merry when he meets both Ruby and Estella there in the end. (Just one big happy family! What a thought!)

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You know, I read your thoughts on the North-Took family, pondering, thinking what the Muse intended (not just what I would want, if that doesn't sound too schizophrenic). Of course there are no later chapters posted here as of yet, but the North-Tooks do visit Buckland after this, at least up until the wedding, and though we don't see them in the glimpses of Buckland after that I think that there were still frequent letters, and as much visiting as farm life allowed. (It's just that those visits take place "off canvas" as you said. They weren't visiting Buckland during the spring flooding, for instance. In point of fact I think that Merry remains a sort of honorary son to the North-Tooks, with all that entails: birthday presents, visits whenever he can get away--which is probably not often--or whenever they can take a holiday--again, with the needs of the farm, not often--and that sort of thing). I can think of a few more reasons you wouldn't see such visits in other stories. One is that I don't spend a lot of time in Buckland; I seem to have got my head stuck in the Tookland much of the time. Another is that a visit by the North-Tooks would have to be carefully handled so as not to sound contrived, what with all the filling in of background and explanations for readers unfamiliar with Jewels. It is a tricky business, weaving stories together and yet making them able to stand alone. I hope that I succeed most of the time. Sometimes I will throw in an unrelated character (unrelated to the current story) when I can fit him/her/them in naturally (like Budgie and his little family appearing at Michel Delving in StarFire), but the North-Tooks at Buckland (after Pippin leaves and goes to Tookland, that is) seems a bit of a stretch. Even though those visits continued, they weren't germane to any of the plots that have arisen so far, and thus not pictured nor mentioned. Not to mention that these visits would probably have been happy times (a little bittersweet, perhaps, remembering Ruby and Thom) and thus not easy to write about. (Angst is easy to write about, humour slightly harder but still easier than everyday, mundane cheer.) I imagine, with their generous spirits, that the North-Tooks adopted Estella as a sort of honorary daughter-in-love, as a matter of fact, and considered Merry's and her children as grandchildren-niece-nephew-cousins (depending on whose perspective). Whew, am particularly groggy this morning. Did I clear things up, or muddy them? Author Reply: BTW, Forget-Me-Not's and Merigrin's Naming Day happened in March or April, didn't it? I think so, anyhow. The North-Tooks would likely have been in the middle of spring planting at the time. I'd think they'd send presents to the Naming, if not able to attend themselves. Perhaps a few bottles of Pearl's Dandelion Wine, and/or Raspberry Cordial ("wine for joy")... Author Reply: oh, wait, I just remembered. The accident/birth happened after Merry's bout with the Shadow, so the Naming did take place in April, and not "March or April"... I am spamming you this morning, apologies. But the second cup of tea is beginning to kick in, and that is a good thing, I think. Author Reply: Came back to reply to Larner's review and had one more thought to tack on. Was musing this morning about how JRRT situated Lithedays on the calendar... in between the bigger harvests, at a time when the farmers would likely be able to get away for a day or two, with their neighbours or hired hands covering for the care of the animals. He said somewhere that most marriages in the Shire took place in the Spring, and I was thinking it must be either when the ground is still too wet to plough, or after sowing's done. And then the Lithedays, with the Free Fair every seventh year (and the election of the Mayor) happens after the early harvests of hay and strawberries, but before the barley and vegetable harvests begin. (The wheat harvest is in there too, somewhere, I forget whether it's before or after barley.) Anyhow, I'm amazed all over again at the attention he gave to detail. Author Reply: p.s. I got your email a few days back, but lost it somehow (must have saved it to the wrong folder as it is not in any of the folders where one would logically expect to find it) and so I can't send a reply! I remember it was about a discrepancy, but for the life of me I can't remember which stories. *sigh* Sorry about that!