harrowcat
· 13 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
I thought that I had reviewed this when I first read it yesterday Dreamflower. But my e.mail was down and I was sneaking a look at SOA at work so I can't have. Anyway... this is great and I am surprised that Legolas didn't ask Bilbo about it when they were at Rivendell. But perhaps he didn't want to look like an idiot!!!
Author's reply
Or perhaps he did ask and Bilbo just answered him cryptically! It would be like Bilbo to not give a straight answer and leave the Elf wondering... *chuckle* Or, it may be that with all the dire circumstances of preparing for the Quest, it escaped Legolas' attentions.
Very poignant. This really brings home how terribly hard those last weeks in the Shire had to be for all of them. And I like how you tie this to "And Neither Have I Wings to Fly." I read that one over at www.writers-haven.net/hobbity_love. That one was a tear-jerker.
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Thank you! I shall have to check out some of the other stories there! I remember the archivist emailing me for permission to place the story, yet I did not realize it was already accomplished! How wonderful!
This whole time period, I think, was incredibly stressful and painful for the four of them. None of them are by nature "secret keepers", and being unable to confide in one another their hopes and fears must have been wrenching.
"Neither Have I Wings to Fly" rather wrote itself--ever since the first time I heard it "The Water is Wide" reminded me of the Grey Havens. And so much has been written of Sam's reactions, but Merry's voice just came to me for that one.
Queen Galadriel
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
Oh, Dreamflower, you should really do that little incident from Bilbo's POV! I can just see him watching Legolas, and as soon as the elf's back is turned, picking up the goblet and drinking half its contents, then snitching meat! Ha ha ha! :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Oh, that *would* be funny, wouldn't it? Thanks for the idea--now I will have to figure out how and where!
PIppinfan1988
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
LOL, oh, how I have often wondered about Legolas and Bilbo running into each other back then! I could very well imagine the "pantry incident"! I also enjoyed the bit of background about elves provided by Legolas. Thank you for yet another wonderful tale!
Pippinfan
Author's reply
*snicker* I think it was more or less bound to happen, don't you?
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Larner
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 95: Conspiratorial Interlude
Interesting view on Merry thinking he's hiding his conspiracy from Pippin who has his own conspiracy of one.
Author's reply
Yes, that idea was the entire premise behind my story "A Conspiracy of Hobbits"--that Merry would have wanted to protect Pippin from danger, and would have tried to keep him out of the plan. But Pippin found out, and kept his knowledge from Merry until shortly before they left, so that Merry would not have time to figure out a way to stop him from going.
PIppinfan1988
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 93: Sam in the Middle
Well, this is certainly a sweet moment with Sam's pov; the protected becomes the protector. And Pippin, most assuredly, has grown--in more ways than one. :-) I enjoyed this very much!
Pippinfan
Author's reply
Yes, a nice role reversal. It was a chance for Sam to realize just how that growing up affected things!
Glad you liked it!
Larner
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
I, too, suspect this was a very early meeting with Bilbo. I still love his description of himself fated to burgle the same house interminably, you know. And nice addition to Lindelea's world.
Hope to get the desktop back up and running this week if possible.
Author's reply
Yes, that little bit of description has always stayed with me! I loved his droll descriptions of his predicament--so hobbity!
Oh, I hope you do! I've missed your regular updates--I look forward to them so much!
Poor Frodo being pestered by those dreadful S-B's, and poor Merry and Pippin keeping secrets from Frodo and each other. It must have been a very difficult time for all of them, and you've captured it perfectly.
Author's reply
Yes, that was probably the worst time of their lives up until the Quest--keeping secrets from one another was just not something that worked well for them, and all it did was make them miserable.
Baggins Babe
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
I love the image of Pippin and Legolas - especially the Elf cross-legged on the floor! What a marvellous notion - that Bilbo's antics with the Ring led to rumours of ghosts in Thranduil's halls. Liked Legolas absolving the cat when he realised who the real culprit was. So I should think!
Author's reply
Well, and Elf or Man on the floor would be at about the right height for conversation with a hobbit in a chair. At least that's the way I've always worked it out--any Big Folk visiting the Shire end up sitting on the floor.
And after all, the strange disappearances and things happening while Bilbo survived on burglary had to be explained *some* way--but Legolas is a fair Elf--he wouldn't keep blaming the cat when he knew the *real* culprit, LOL!
Bodkin
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 95: Conspiratorial Interlude
Everybody keeping secrets from everybody else. Must have been torture for most of them!
And the Sackville-Bagginses making nuisances of themselves. Typical.
Author's reply
Oh, it was, very much so! It was the one time of their lives that the cousins' connection was not working well--for that was based on total trust and honesty with one another, and keeping secrets disrupted that, and made all of them miserable.
And, as you say, typical S.-B. behavior--rude and pushy and thoughtless and cruel!
Bodkin
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
I love the thought of Bilbo creating a legend of ghosts haunting the Stronghold! And Legolas convincing himself that he was imagining things.
I should imagine that Pippin enjoyed the tale too - I love the picture of him in his nursery chair with the elf sitting cross-legged on the floor.
Author's reply
I'm sure most of the Elves would have thought they were imagining things the first time it happened to them; it was only after it *kept* happening that they began to think up supernatural explanations. The truth would never have occured to them--a creature called a hobbit, with a Ring of Power?
Thanks. I could just see the two of them, seated near a window in a shaft of sunlight!
Andrea
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
Strider was busy being King Elessar this morning.
LOL! Now, that is an interesting example of "Pippish", surprisingly straight to the point, but to anyone except the Fellowship (and us readers, of course) totally confusing!
When Bilbo used the Ring for his "raids" it was asleep, for Sauron had not called for it so far. But it awoke when he was still carrying it, I think. That made him restless and uneasy and kindled his wish to leave the Shire. He left the Ring to Frodo, when it was high time. Only some weeks or maybe days later he would not have been able to give it up. He really had good luck.
But if he had known the full truth about his Ring, would he have given it to Frodo?
Author's reply
Yes, very "Pippish", yet that's how he'd think of it. I am sure that no matter how much the hobbits revered and respected Aragorn as Elessar the King, to them he was first and foremost Strider, the Ranger and Healer and very dear friend.
Yes, it was mostly asleep for the majority of the time that he held it. Yet if it had been picked up by a hobbit like Lotho, I think the greed and ambition would have served to waken it, at least some. But because Bilbo never thought of things of that sort, he avoided "rousing" the Ring by his own thoughts. Yet he carried it for sixty years, and Sauron had begun to stir. So, yes, his timing in giving it up just when he did was a very *good* bit of luck.
No. I don't think he would. He would have been appalled, and perhaps sought Gandalf's assistance in getting it out of the Shire, but he would definitely not had thought of putting such a horrible burden on his beloved younger cousin.
So, it's just as well things turned out as they did.
Kitty
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 95: Conspiratorial Interlude
Poor Frodo, these experiences must have been the two worst days of his life so far. And I have to admit, I had always wondered why on earth he sold Bag End to the S.-B.’s of all people! I’m sure he could have found someone who was not so nasty and *deserved* this wonderful hobbit hole much more than Lobelia and Lotho.
Anyway, this is an awkward situation for the cousins. Both holding secrets from each other, both are worried about Frodo, both are worried how the other and Frodo will react when they get to know the whole truth ...
Author's reply
Well, the reason I puzzled out was three-fold. Part of it had to do with Frodo's "cover story" of having no more money--if that were true, then it would have been illogical for him to turn down a standing offer of cash; part of it had to do with *time*--he didn't have much, and it was far quicker to take Lotho's standing offer. But the third reason was a bit different. I think that Frodo was "burning his bridges" in the Shire. He knew that if he sold Bag End to the S.-B.'s, that he could not bear to stay around and watch, so he could not then back out of leaving the Shire--it was a way of helping himself overcome his reluctance to leave after the decision had been made.
And yes,this whole time period was very awkward for all three cousins, trying so hard to keep secrets from one another that each one failed to see the evidence of secrets on the part of the others. This had to be a horrid time for all of them.
Kitty
· 12 February 2006
· Chapter 94: Late Knight Snack
*lol* What a pity the cat turned up – it would’ve been interesting what Legolas would have thought after the food vanished from his plate! I can imagine his face *giggle*
Of course that had to be Bilbo with his ring. One could feel sorry for the Elves! When something like this happens only once, it could explained this way or that – but when it is repeated over days it must be very confusing.
Oh, and I agree with Legolas why the ring had so little impact on Bilbo. It couldn't be simply because hobbits are more resistant to it, because it was a very wide contrast to Gollum, who was a hobbit, too - he saw it and killed at once his best friend. So it has to have to do something with the character.
Author's reply
Yes, he probably would have thought he, too, was going mad, LOL!
Bilbo was in many ways more resistant to the Ring than Frodo; it never really seemed to have much grasp on him until the very end. Gollum,I think was already an aberration as a hobbit--I've toyed with the idea that perhaps Smeagol's family were the ancestors of the Bracegirdles...who passed on a strain of acquisitiveness and greed that was unusual in hobbits...
Periantari
· 11 February 2006
· Chapter 92: Where There's a Will...There's Merry
So adorable. SO adorable.
My favorite bits:
He lay next to his cousin, softly combing his little fingers through the dark curls. When he saw his mother, his eyes widened and he sat up. awwww just awww- inducing. :D
He needed to see Frodo. If Frodo was sick that meant he felt bad. And when Frodo felt bad it was Merry’s job to cheer him up. Why was Dahlia being so silly about all this?
Merry is so cute at this age...indeed his determination is one trait we see again during the Quest... awww what loving relationship you have between them. :D
And it was so cute that Dahlia got fooled and that Merry faked his sleep. lol
Very cute story. :D
Author's reply
Merry really is a very cute faunt. But the seeds of his future personality--that fierce loyalty and devotion to Frodo, and that drive and determination that led him on--were already there!
Poor Dahlia! In a battle of wits with a stubborn little Merry, she was bound to lose, if for no other reason than his unceasing persistance, LOL!
Bodkin
· 11 February 2006
· Chapter 93: Sam in the Middle
But it did make a body feel older.
So true. They grow up and become independent and then start looking after you!
I love Sam's point of view - he has grown so much over the quest. The Gaffer would hardly recognise him in some ways and yet, really, his good Sammishness has just intensified. It must be disconcerting for him to see Pippin and Merry as warriors. Fully adult and responsible.
And I like Anwald. He's a delightful addition!
Author's reply
Yes, nothing like seeing the ones you've known as little ones all grown up to make one suddenly feel the weight of years.
"Sammishness". I like that. What a wonderful way to put it--all those things that make him essentially Sam: his earthy practicality, his hidden poetic streak, his hobbit-sense wisdom, his deep-rooted loyalty--yes, the Quest just took all those things and refined them into essential "Sammishness".
And it is disconcerting to realize how quickly his friends have matured. Merry of course, was close to Sam's own age, but Pippin's a good ten years younger!
And I'm glad you like Anwald. I think that when he was a child he must have been told stories about the mythical holbytlan, and was just fascinated to find them true!
Larner
· 10 February 2006
· Chapter 93: Sam in the Middle
Oh, how beautiful, and seeing Pippin taking now his rightful place as one of the protectors.
Author's reply
Thank you. I thought that it might work that way, you know--Pippin's grown into a mighty warrior now, as Sam and Frodo have slowly begun to find out. And Sam deserves to be one of the protected, as Pippin well knows.
Larner
· 10 February 2006
· Chapter 92: Where There's a Will...There's Merry
Bless the persistent and clever little bairn! I can see it now, and the love expressed.
Author's reply
"Persistent and clever"; that's our Merry, and I like to think he was like that from the start. And he did love his big brother/cousin so very much!
MarigoldG
· 10 February 2006
· Chapter 93: Sam in the Middle
Oh, wonderful, thank you for writing this! I liked too many bits to quote them all, but did of course especially like poor Pippin's knee acting up and Merry hugging Frodo after their *discussion*... : )
I just started writing a bitsy ficlet about Gandalf knowing that Merry and Pippin were planning on going along, so I was really pleased to see that mention as well!
Thank you again! You should have more challenges to stump the author as I have lots more bunnies for you, lol : )
Author's reply
*grin*
Well, I knew you would like those things when I included them, LOL!
I thought that might be an interesting clanger to drop. And really, he hung around from sometime in April all the way to the 20th of June. I am quite sure he would have picked up the vibes and known what it meant!! But of course, the funny thing would be Frodo's reaction, as well as Merry's and Pippin's, on finding out that their secrets had really been no secret at all.
Oh, I get *plenty* of bunnies from you anyway, you rascal! I am quite convinced that you are over there running a bunny breeding program!! (And how about that lone little bunny I gave you?) 8-D
rabidsamfan
· 10 February 2006
· Chapter 93: Sam in the Middle
Oh, that's marvelous! I love seeing the "rearrangement" of the hobbit pile from Sam's point of view, and I love it that he accepts Pippin's choice to rearrange, even though Pippin just got dosed by Aragorn.
(And bonus! It's sam!comfort with the whole Fellowship around! *bounce bounce bounce*)
Author's reply
I kind of had a hunch you might like this one! Thank Marigold for the bunny--when she was beta-ing "Chance Encounter" for me, she told me she wanted a fic about the first time Sam found himself in the middle instead of the outside!
*grin* I am glad that you are feeling up to bouncing, dear! So glad you made it home, and are doing well.
Queen Galadriel
· 9 February 2006
· Chapter 58: Waiting for Bilbo
*giggles* Merry is just too cute! And I love the way Frodo spoils him! LOL! It's just too much of a temptation to spoil adorable little ones sometimes. :) And you really make him seem like a real child, getting upset if he doesn't know the answer to a riddle, and loving the repetition. Love it, love it!
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
I absolutely love to write young!Frodo-wee!Merry. Frodo just dotes on the lad, because Merry is his own little ray of sunshine, that brought him out of his darkness of grief, and he *does* spoil him. Fortunately, as JRRT informs us, hobbit children do not spoil easily, so even when indulged, they usually remain sweet and good-natured. Merry spoils Pip the same way--yet Pippin cheerfully allows his cousins to boss him around.
There is a stage children go through--modern children at that age, will, for example, want the same movie played over and over again. In other times, it would have been songs and stories and riddles and word games.
Ah! A music box! Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one. In my "Beloved Child," I'm going to have Bilbo give wee! Frodo something similar (but not so fragile, of course-it would be unwise) for their first-ever joint birthday...Frodo's first. :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Well, it's more than just a music-box. In the original story ("Ho Ho! My Lads"), which Marigold and I co-wrote, Pippin's gift was inspired by such an item. We saw it in a Cracker Barrel Restaurant--called a "symphonium" it was a music box, but it had several discs that played different songs.
I could see Bilbo giving baby Frodo a music box--that sounds delightful!
Queen Galadriel
· 9 February 2006
· Chapter 50: Down the Green Hills
*wipes eyes* Oh dear...I'm just too emotional tonight. That's right up there with Lindelea's "A Lamp in the Window!" You capture the longing for home perfectly here.
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Thank you! I wanted something that would be sentimental, and would give a picture of the Shire as the hobbits thought of it.
Queen Galadriel
· 9 February 2006
· Chapter 36: A Thorny Problem
Ah yes, the talents of the Tooks! I love this! You know, when I think of thorns and LOTR, I immediately think of Mordor, but I'm glad this didn't take place there. I love it when the hobbits get to help the larger folk out of a scrape. :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
*snicker* Yes, those nimble fingers come in handy!
Well, of course there are thorns elsewhere in M-e, as poor Boromir found out! I love to let the hobbits have a chance to shine as well!
Queen Galadriel
· 9 February 2006
· Chapter 37: Seven (Going on Thirty-nine)
Oh, poor little Merry!
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Yes, poor Merry! And such a foreshadowing of his losing his cousin later. First he "lost" him across the Brandywine (the water), but was able still to see him and visit him--though the relationship would never be quite the same again. And then he lost him across another water, the Sundering Sea.