Bodkin
· 18 November 2004
· Chapter 40: Courage is Found...
from Punch: September 5 1891
'Oh, just won't the street-boys chyike me and 'ousemaids of BUMBLE make sport?'
Written in London slang by a . . . sort of policeman. Different spelling. Must be a word from my grandfather's vocabulary.
(found on the net)
Author's reply
sort of policeman?
Interesting word, though. Our dad brought back a lot of Italian from WWII. There was one word he used a lot, that sort of meant "wait a minute". I never heard it from anyone else until one day we were watching an old episode of "I Love Lucy", the one where she was in Italy, treading out grapes, and the phrase was used! I have no idea how it's spelt, but it sounds like "ahshpet".
Bodkin
· 17 November 2004
· Chapter 40: Courage is Found...
Chi, like ch - eye; -ik, like Eisenhower; -ing like -ing. I think it was probably a word from my grandfather.
He came back from WW1 with various words (probably not including that) that I did not realise had a French origin until donkey's years after I was adult - like oolay for milk (au lait), and booboos for candy (bonbons).
But chi-ike sounds more London. Might not be though.
Grey Wonderer
· 17 November 2004
· Chapter 40: Courage is Found...
I half expected Pippin to protest being seated any distance at all away from Merry but Sam was very quick to put a stop to that. Merry has quite an audience for his surgery. You couldn't get the same deal anywhere that I've been. Seems Strider doesn't mind an audience. Great chapter.
loved the opening line: (Pippin had watched all the preparations as keenly as the bird whose name he bore )
also: (Will you Brandybucks ever take leave of your unnatural fascination with water?’)
and this: (‘I’m in league with the chambermaids,’ Elessar said in kind. ‘As long as you’re in it, they don’t have to change the sheets!’)
Author's reply
I'm sure the hobbits wanted to be much closer, but then, the surgeon does need to have access to the table!
Hmmm, wonder if I could get the folk around here to sleep in this morning so *I* can put off changing sheets...
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 17 November 2004
· Chapter 40: Courage is Found...
So Sam is on Pippin-watch. Probably just as well - he does seem a bit shaky. More so than Estella really. Good gallows humour going on - as it always does when people are under pressure.
'‘Yes,’ Elladan put in. ‘My younger brother does appreciate a tale before he’s sent to his sleep.’
‘My older brother has been known to pause in his adult affairs and settle his creaking joints to listen to children’s tales,’ the King returned affably. ‘It makes him feel young at heart.’
‘He must listen to an awful lot of children’s tales,’ Pippin said, eyeing the son of Elrond.'
Love this bit of sibling chi-iking (that is a word I don't think I've ever seen written. It appears not to be in the dictionary.) And Pippin's addition is lovely.
Author's reply
chi-iking? how do you pronounce that? Interesting word.
Hoped, when writing this, that Elf-writers would not take exception to the banter between Estel and his foster-brother. I figured that Elladan and Elrohir couldn't be serious *all* the time, even with the sorrow in their past (and present, I suppose, with both their parents "gone"). I'm still a little tentative whenever I write Elves.
Thanks for commenting!
Connie B.
· 17 November 2004
· Chapter 40: Courage is Found...
Oh, you split this up into more than one chapter. Even though I know everything turns out all right in the end, it's still hard to wait through this with them. Merry puts up a good front of cheerfulness, even though he had to be at least a little nervous about what was about to happen. I wish I had been able to be that upbeat when I had my elective surgery.
Please don't keep us waiting too long.
Thanks.
Connie B.
Author's reply
Thanks for the quick review!
I will try not to keep you waiting too long, even though the Muse is straining at the (I forget the rest of the cliche) to write the story of Freddy going South to live, and his friendship with Beregond... so little time, so many ideas.
The chapter ran too long to post in one piece, and I actually did you a favour, breaking it where I did. It's actually less of a cliff-hanger than it might be.
Ah, hobbits, with their light talk in heavy circumstances...
Connie B.
· 15 November 2004
· Chapter 39: Of Draughts and Dreams
Ferdi is the most stubborn person I think I've ever come accross, and that's saying something since I'm the queen of stubborness and my daughter is the princess. In fact she's got me beat.
I'm glad life in the Great Smials is getting back to normal.
That last little scene with Merry was fantastic. Nice touch that Pippin recognized what Aragorn was doing from his own memories.
I feel like I should say more, but my brain isn't at full functioning this morning.
Thanks.
Connie B.
Bodkin
· 14 November 2004
· Chapter 39: Of Draughts and Dreams
Woodruff'll never convince him. Healers are designed by nature just to make Ferdi (MFH) want to suffer. Hilly and Tolly'll never convince him. They are too likely to be teasing him. Nell, on the other hand . . . She might manage to make him believe he was a little unwell - maybe a cold, maybe a bit over-tired.
And now they've got Merry drinking the stuff! Well, at least when he wakes up he's going to feel GOOD.
And Aragorn is semi-hypnotising him? And Pippin is on the point of dropping off, too - he's not, by any chance, a bit suggestible, is he?
Hai Took
· 14 November 2004
· Chapter 39: Of Draughts and Dreams
Well Ferdi has been discovered and none are the worse foe wear! Ferdi thinking it had only been a night and that there should be no fuss, then Hilly and the others being so surprised to find him in his bed! At least he understands some of what has happened! I'm glad that Hilly and Posey are on their way to the Lake now, or at least soon. I hope that Merry does all right, he has plenty watching over him, he Healer not least of all! Looking forward to more!
Grey Wonderer
· 14 November 2004
· Chapter 39: Of Draughts and Dreams
Seems Merry may not be the only one going to sleep. LOL Pippin almost went right along with him. Luckily Estella is still awake. This sleeping draught is a powerful mixture. I'd love some for my sleepless nights. I'd write less, but I would feel much better at work. Looking forward to more.
Grey Wonderer
· 11 November 2004
· Chapter 38: Bed and Breakfast
I love Diamond and how she knows just what Pippin needs. I also am very worried about the children now. I think one of them is about to be in trouble. Waiting for more. You do end these in the most desperate places. LOL I am also wishing for the next chapter.
Connie B.
· 11 November 2004
· Chapter 38: Bed and Breakfast
More hobbit sweetness, I love it.
You're right, after Pippin's story, it is a lot easier to understand why he wouldn't want information hidden from him just the "protect" him.
Now Woodruff and Co. are really goiong to be confused.
Thanks.
Connie B.
Hai Took
· 11 November 2004
· Chapter 38: Bed and Breakfast
Oh my, Pippin's memories of Frodo having the splinter removed were terrible! Gave me shivers to think about! and now he is cocerned because Merry is about to go through somthing akin to it, of course he won't turn into a wriath or some such, but it is frightening none the less.
I couldn't help but laugh! Ferdi visiting the kitchen long before first breakfast is served then going back to bed! Now there will really be an uproar when he is back in place! It's great!
Oh dearm now Fennel has worked himself into a fit over everything that has happened! I hope he is all right as well.
Looking forward to more! Thank you!
Bodkin
· 11 November 2004
· Chapter 37: Awakenings
I just love the way Ferdi (MFH) is tactfully putting the new girl in the kitchen at her ease. Very clever. And just picturing him wandering in for breakfast in complete ignorance is hilarious.
Diamond and Estella must have a lot in common - if only with those two Travellers. So like Merry to keep quiet about what he knows will worry Pippin.
Author's reply
Ferdi's good at making the best of a situation. I'm reminded of the way he taught Fastred to enjoy writing, as told in "Merlin" (and yes, I'm certainly hoping my editor-friend will decide she's no longer sick of that story!).
I guess turn-about is fair play. Pippin, after all, keeps his ills quiet from Merry as well.
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 11 November 2004
· Chapter 38: Bed and Breakfast
The Ferdi and Woodruff Show. It's becoming like one of those farces where somebody goes in one door as the other goes out and they are all going round in circles missing each other all the time. What a good antithesis to the stress of the earlier chapters . . (though I don't know if Woodruff and Fennel will see it quite that way).
And to the stress of the Pippin and Merry Show. Pippin's gruesome memories of Frodo's treatment by Elrond are very - well, gruesome. And the humour of Elves playing hide and seek with hobbits makes a great contrast.
And in the background of memory - hobbit children . . ponies . . ruffians . . kidnapping. Goodness there's a lot going on. Great stuff.
Author's reply
Thanks for the quick review, very heartening. I fear I've not been so diligent in reading others' stories, including the one you're working on (such a promising beginning!), but at the moment I am in a phase where I'm able to write and so spending most of my time either writing or editing already-written chapters to post, making the most of the time while the Muse remains tractable. No doubt the time will come again where the words don't flow and all I can do is read and review. Such is life.
You're right, there is an awful lot going on. So far, so good.
Grey Wonderer
· 10 November 2004
· Chapter 37: Awakenings
Love how Diamond and Estella had talked things out after their lads had gone to sleep. So like Merry to keep the pain a secret from Pippin and so like Pippin to sit up worried. Great chapter from one of the fastest posters on this site. Keep it coming. I look forward to each new chapter.
Author's reply
Isn't it funny? I can just see them sitting in the kitchen, sipping at their warm milk and talking quietly.
Thanks for the good words!
Connie B.
· 10 November 2004
· Chapter 37: Awakenings
Some things never change, and Ferdi is one of them. Nice to see him up and about again, and nice that he's got the whole Smials in an uproar.
Pippin and Diamond are such a sweet couple. I know they are going to have their hard times, but their love is obvious. That scene between them was beautiful.
Merry is going to go through with it as soon as possible, huh? I can't blame him, but it's still going to be hard for him, and us, I think.
Looking forward to what comes next.
Connie B.
Author's reply
Thanks! I was worried that someone might take exception to Pippin jumping to a conclusion (as in, Diamond was keeping something from him, protecting him from knowing Merry was in pain, before she explained about meeting Estella in the kitchen the previous night), but the reasons behind that will come out in the next chapter.
You had me laughing over your comments about Ferdi. Such a quiet, unassuming fellow, and how he manages to turn things on their head!
Hai Took
· 9 November 2004
· Chapter 36: Spilling Forth
Oh deaer! Not only do these men want to hobbitnap the Thain's son but they are going to get the wrong hobbit child! I loved the hobbity conversation tough that you gave snatches of!
Ferdi's is awake and is just leaving! He thinks it has only been a couple of days at most so he is just leaving bed and no one know he is up! It is rather amusing, though I hope it doesn't cause panic! Looking forward to more, thank you!
Author's reply
Wrong child, there's a nightmare for you. No, wait, even the right child would be a nightmare.
Well, Ferdi's awakening will hopefully cause more amusement than panic, at least for the reader!
Thanks!
Oh, no. A kidnapping for the Thain's gold and they have picked out the wrong little hobbit-lad, haven't they? This will nearly kill Sam. I don't think there is ever going to be a peaceful time for Merry's surgery in all of this. Seems that something is always going wrong. Great chapter. I loved discription of the hobbit ponies all around the king and queen's horses and Merry and Estella are so very sweet together. More soon? Hope the cold is better. I am being too greedy here. Rest and get well, and then more.
Author's reply
The cold is better, thanks for asking.
It's not too hard to post more chapters of this one; most of them are already written out--just Merry's surgery is only sketched and being written this week. At least I hope so. In the meantime there are some other events to enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to comment!
FantasyFan
· 8 November 2004
· Chapter 36: Spilling Forth
Pippin has had opportunity before now to wish away the Thain's gold, but this one sounds serious. Later on in "Runaway" he's worried that Farry will be kidnapped for ransom, but only the escort knows of such an evil. Seems like he was right to be worried, and these aren't the type of television-badguys who hang around talking and letting themselves be caught. They intend to kill Farry right away, which is much more realistic and far scarier. Hope the king's guardsmen are on patrol.
And then, a bit of levity. Ferdi wakes up and goes off to breakfast. The healers will have a cow when they find out. Looking forward to the uproar.
Author's reply
Yup. I re-read "Runaway" while I was in the middle of outlining this part of the story, and decided I didn't hate it after all... actually, it was much better than I thought. (I thought it a terrible story, only rescued by Jo's intervention, but going back to it much later it no longer makes me wince to read it.)
In any event, partly to make "Runaway" more plausible, the topic of kidnapping has been (and is about to be again) explored in "Glisters". There may be a few surprises in store, but who am I to give away plot points?
Levity, yes. Uproar, definitely. Stay tuned, same hobbit-time, same hobbit-channel.
(Thanks for commenting!)
Bodkin
· 8 November 2004
· Chapter 36: Spilling Forth
Nones - yes. It's the sort of thing that can be complicated to explain and date from my youth of learning Latin.
The Romans apparently had three set dates. The Kalends - the first of the month, the Nones, which was either the fifth or the seventh and the Ides which was the thirteenth or the seventeenth. They they counted backwards from that - so giving the date as 'however many days before the Nones of March'. (Desperately boring, really).
They mnemonic came courtesy of Mr. Dryer, aka 'Ted', Latin teacher extraordinaire. It worked - as witness the fact that several hundred years later, it still pops into my head at irrelevant moments.
Author's reply
My goodness! Imagine figuring dates that way! (Of course, hobbits are much more sensible.) Sort of reminds me of a slight bit of culture shock when in Germany. Instead of saying "quarter to" some hour, they say "three quarters", and it always threw me for a (tiny) loop.
I never learned Latin, and now I have a student clamouring to learn it. *sigh*
Bodkin
· 8 November 2004
· Chapter 36: Spilling Forth
Oh, how that hobbit makes me laugh. Ferdi (MFH) is just such a star - I often wonder why Gandalf didn't pack him up with the others and cart him off on the quest. And he will be completely clueless about why everyone's jaw hits the floor as he prances into the dining hall. Sooooooo funny.
But the situation on the way to the Lake sounds a little more ominous. (The villains won't get away with it! Thieves never prosper. Honesty is the best policy. In March, July, October, May, the Nones fall on the seventh day. I before e, except after c. People who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones.) I quite hope that Jack and his lads come storming through to the rescue. It would be a nice twist and a good repayment to Diamond for her trust in them. (Casting her bread upon the waters.)
And, by the way, I've fallen in love - with the Baranduin. I want to go there for my holidays.
Lovely chapter. Lots of potential intrigue. Portends a goodly collection of chapters to come.
Author's reply
Chuckling with you. Wonder just how far the joke will (credibly) stretch... Actually, he very nearly did go on the Quest you know. He was following Pippin when Regi intercepted him and recruited him for the defence of Tookland. LOL, would JRRT be amused or horrified?
What are Nones? I'm always learning something...
I love white water, rapids and waterfalls and little calm pools and eddies in the midst of it all. If you find a travel agent to book you there, give me the number!
Goodly collection, yes. After all, this was really supposed to be two stories, though it makes it less complicated (less "back-story" to fill in, in the second half, for readers unfamiliar with the first half) to string all the beads onto one very long wire.
Lots of threads in this tapestry, lots of stitches in this knitting. Hope I don't drop one!
Thanks.
Connie B.
· 8 November 2004
· Chapter 36: Spilling Forth
Oh dear, another twist in the thread. I wasn't expecting a kidnapping plot. And if that's not bad enough, they're eyeing the wrong kid. I know it all works out, but the angst is encredible.
Thanks.
Connie B.
Author's reply
Hope the angst isn't too much! At least I'm done with torturing Ferdibrand (physically, at least. I think he'll be rather annoyed with all the attention he'll be getting in the near future).
There are at least three angsty sequences left in the story, if I haven't forgotten something, but since you've been with me on other travels you know we are always working towards a satisfying end.
Thanks for the timely feedback! Comments are so encouraging.
Hai Took
· 5 November 2004
· Chapter 35: You Can Lead a Pony to Water
Oh dear Hilly and Posey shouldn't linger too long or the guards who are suppose to be waiting for them may be in trouble! Maybe they are on their way to becoming more like hobbits, they certainly will if the Sheriffs wife conitnues to feed them!
Hilly is full of good ideas in this story! How clever to use the Pony draught contraption! It seems to be working and all I only hope that Ferdi will soon be awake so that things can progress normally for Nell and the kids!
Looking forward to more and hope it isn't too long in the coming!
Bodkin
· 5 November 2004
· Chapter 35: You Can Lead a Pony to Water
Another medical advance hits th Great Smials - thanks to Hilly. Necessity certainly is the mother of invention. I'm glad Nell seems happier.
Is Ferdi now three quarters pony?
Grey Wonderer
· 4 November 2004
· Chapter 35: You Can Lead a Pony to Water
Now I hadn't expect this! Medical advances thanks to the sleeping draught! Good thing they had ponies around.