Dreamflower's Mathoms I by Dreamflower
Kitty · 20 May 2005 · Chapter 47: Heart's Desire
Nice little ficlet! Arwen came in the right moment and with the right words, I think, to comfort poor Frodo a little bit.
Author's reply
I hope that they were of some comfort to him. In my head I am picturing this as their first real conversation after the wedding. So perhaps she will get the first glimmering of what he needs...
Bodkin · 19 May 2005 · Chapter 47: Heart's Desire
Nice one! And could account for why she wants to give him a gift in return. Although she would anyway. She's Elrond's daughter!
Author's reply
I think you are actually right on both counts. She *does* want to try and repay him just a little--although, I suspect like her husband she will never think *anything* is enough for what he did. But, as you said, she's Elrond's daughter with a heart as lovely as her face, and even if she didn't feel obligated, she would offer the gift.
Larner · 19 May 2005 · Chapter 47: Heart's Desire
This one and the one of Frodo taking leave from atop the Hill are two of the most beautiful short stories I've read about our lads. And this one has me weeping for Frodo's own inner turmoil. Another reason to put a brave face on it and try to appear normal, when inside he is anything but.
Author's reply
Thank you very much. From someone like you, who has such a deep appreciation of, and high standards for,fictional depictions of Frodo it means a good deal. I think that the longing for the Ring after its destruction did a good deal to shame Frodo, even though it was something he couldn't anymore help than he could have helped putting it on at Sammath Naur in the first place. But his own high expectations for himself would not allow him to forgive himself something that he would have had no trouble forgiving someone *else* for. (Witness his forgiving attitude to Gollum, Saruman and Lotho) I wanted to contrast that with the idea that his actions gave *others* (most notably Arwen and Aragorn, their own heart's desire).
Larner · 10 May 2005 · Chapter 6: A Mist of Tears and Weariness
I must have skipped this one, but I find I love it, the image of Gandalf comforting Merry, and staying by his side as he stays by Pippin's. Thank you for it.
Author's reply
This is one of my own favorites, so I am glad you found it and enjoyed it. Thank *you* for the review. It is always nice to find a comment on something that has been around for a while.
Larner · 10 May 2005 · Chapter 2: A Matter of Perspective
If only he had been able to stay safe. Excellent thoughts on perspective. Another I hadn't read for quite some time. Wish I'd commented on it before.
Author's reply
Well, I am so glad to see that you commented now. It has always seemed to me a very special and important thing that Bilbo was at Rivendell when the Travellers arrived there. He was needed very much at that point, after the four of them had encountered their first and most horrifying dangers; I am sure the days between their arrival and their leaving were often occupied by their most senior cousin lending them his love and wisdom.
Larner · 10 May 2005 · Chapter 3: Neither Have I Wings to Fly
It's been so long since I read this one, and it is one of my favorites you've written. Yes, I feel with Merry, understand the grief for the grief perceived. And understand the grief for the one who had to leave at last to survive the losses he's known.
Author's reply
Thank you. Ever since I have ever heard that old folk song "The Water is Wide", I always thought of the ones Frodo left behind. The Elves called it The Sundering Sea for a very good reason. And though I do not necessarily think Merry's love was any greater or deeper than Sam's or Pippin's, it was the oldest--reaching back as it did to his very infancy, and I think, due to his protective and possessive nature, his grief may have been the sharpest.
Larner · 7 May 2005 · Chapter 46: Fatherly Advice
Aha--so the father of the groom is going to side with the bride, is he? Lovely thought.
Author's reply
I've always thought that young Goldilocks would be the kind of lass who was a female version of young Pippin--able to twist just about anyone around her little finger, especially her father and "uncles".
Lindelea · 7 May 2005 · Chapter 46: Fatherly Advice
LOL! Yes, sounds like a very realistic conversation. BTW, read the reviews. You're right about Sam's brown eyes, whether you realised it or not: They're another colour Tolkien mentioned. And Gandalf had black eyes, as I recall.
Author's reply
Interesting. I don't really remember ever seeing that. I don't doubt it though; it's probably stuck somewhere in my subconscious, which is why I have always thought that about Sam. And you know, though black eyes are common enough in song and story, I have never in my life actually *met* anyone who really had *black* eyes--very dark brown yes, but not black.
Andrea · 6 May 2005 · Chapter 46: Fatherly Advice
Better be aware, Faramir, for Goldilocks has a lot of brothers ;-) "One pair of Tookish green eyes looked into another." I like the Tookish green eyes, but I'm on a memory loss here. Where do they come from, the books, the movie? I just can't remember!
Author's reply
It's from the films. Billy Boyd has lovely green eyes. In point of fact, JRRT almost never describes eye color except for Aragorn--Numenoreans have grey eyes. I'm influenced by the movies on Frodo and Pippin--my Frodo has blue and my Pippin has green, but my Merry has grey eyes, and my Sam has brown, and I don't think that matches Dom Monaghan or Sean Astin.
Hai Took · 6 May 2005 · Chapter 46: Fatherly Advice
lol, sweet! At first I thought it was Pippin and Faramir of Gondor. I did like this, poor Faramir he is going to have pressure on all sides!
Author's reply
Well, Fell_beast2 requested Pippin talking to Faramir before he married Goldilocks, so... I admit, it's confusing having characters with the same name. JRRT should have been more considerate of us fanfic writers, LOL!
Bodkin · 6 May 2005 · Chapter 46: Fatherly Advice
I wonder if Goldilocks is hearing similar words?
Author's reply
Quite likely. I imagine Rose and Diamond both would have words of wisdom for her.
Saoirse · 5 May 2005 · Chapter 46: Fatherly Advice
Awwwwwwwww... Pippin always knows just the right thing to say to lighten the mood. How sweet! :)
Author's reply
Yes, he does, doesn't he?
Larner · 29 April 2005 · Chapter 45: Worth the Wait
VERY wise hobbit, not asking right then. Hehehehehehe!
Author's reply
Yes, one does not ask one's wife if she wants more children right after giving birth if one values one's life, LOL!
Larner · 29 April 2005 · Chapter 44: Homecoming
Oh. Just, Oh. Nice.
Author's reply
Thank you.
Larner · 29 April 2005 · Chapter 43: Last Look
Yes, very much in keeping with my own vision of Frodo.
Author's reply
Thank you very much! I think that we see him in the same way. I have always felt that Frodo was happiest when he was thinking of, and doing for, others, and keeping his mind off himself. I believed this was true even before the Quest to a certain extent, but it most certainly was true afterward. A high compliment coming from you--you have very high standards for Frodo!
Larner · 29 April 2005 · Chapter 42: Standing at the Bow
Yes, the healing was indeed begun, and so very needed. Lovely.
Author's reply
Thank you. I think that is one of the first things Bilbo would begin to look for.
Saoirse · 27 April 2005 · Chapter 44: Homecoming
*blink, sniff* The moment must have been so terribly hard for them. Realizing that they really *must* try and continue their lives again, and continue without their beloved Frodo but in memory. Wonderfully delineated.
Saoirse · 27 April 2005 · Chapter 43: Last Look
O, Dreamflower... this was so lovely! I was really there, I could see the moon and feel the air and the wind... lovely.
Author's reply
Oh thank you! That is such a nice compliment!
Andrea · 27 April 2005 · Chapter 43: Last Look
"They would be all right. They had to be. He had done it all for them, after all." That's just perfect! Frodo's intentions and thoughts summed up in three short sentences! He went on his quest to save the Shire, but he saved Middle Earth. But that's not important for Frodo. For him it only counts that the Shire, his friends and family are save. Is there a little doubt in the second sentence? He has not to worry, he has to do something good for himself now. They will be alright! Thank you for this little story!
Author's reply
Thank *you* for the lovely review! Frodo has always found his happiness in doing for others, but now even that is hard come by. He does worry, but at this point, he knows it is now or never--he can go, and stand a chance at healing, or he can stay and inflict his suffering and likely death on those he cares about. They *will* be all right. But they will never cease to miss and mourn him.
elisabeth · 25 April 2005 · Chapter 12: Circle of Joy
Country dancing in the Shire! Country dancing in the Shire! Sorry, I'm just excited that someone else knows what hobbits dance (at least, in the not-very-humble opinion of this fan of English Country Dance). There is so much music mentioned in LotR that it's a pity there isn't more dancing, especially hobbit dancing, which undoubtedly isn't so fine as Luthien's, but would go well with their parties and feasts. (Every time I watch the party sequence of Jackson's FofR movie I wish to see hobbits dancing "Wibsey Roundabout"--I know, fat chance, what with copyright and all, but it is another very hobbity dance. If you haven't danced it, there are instructions at http://www.bacds.org/events/playfordball2003/dances.htm and a sample of the music at http://www.cds-boston.org/ecdc/vol2/.) I liked Esmeralda and her fiddle, but it is a pity there were no relief musicians so she and Pippin could take a turn on the dance floor--some of our musicians do, when there aren't enough dancers for the set but there are more than enough musicians for the tune. I also liked that Pippin has picked up another instrument--not that one cannot play dance music on bagpipes, but I think they would drown out the fiddle and flute. Here's to more music in Middle Earth! --elisabeth
Author's reply
I have lots of dancing for my hobbits; I'm in the SCA, and we do a good deal of Country Dance as well as Renaissance Dance. I actually *use* dances we do, and give them hobbity names. (For example, the one I call "Exchanges" is actually "Hole-in-the-Wall", LOL!) I first had dancing as a major part of the plot in "A New Reckoning" at the Ball and at Sam's wedding, and then again in "It Takes a Took" and "Marigold's Wedding". My Pip plays the fiddle, lap harp, bagpipes and panpipes. (He learned that last one on the Quest, from Legolas.) So he's pretty musical overall, along with his singing. I always think that at most hobbity parties the music is provided by family and friends; only for something major, like a Ball, would paid musicians be engaged. And though Pip loves to dance, he was only 18 (equal to 12 Man years) at Frodo's 40th, so he probably would have wanted to play just as much as dance. (Though an 11 year old was once one of my favorite partners.)
Eruanna · 25 April 2005 · Chapter 43: Last Look
This is beautiful. I love your description of the wind and the moonlight--it feels as though I'm there. And that last line really gets me. It sums up the whole of his story so perfectly... Blessings, Eruanna
Author's reply
Thank you1 Isil had asked for Frodo, just before he left, perhaps standing on a hill. I thought night time would be most appropriate. Frodo has by this time, become almost Elven himself, a creature of starlight and moonlight. It is the whole of his story: his selflessness and his love were all that kept the pain at bay; and to my mind it goes long before the Ring to the loss of his parents. All his life, he was happiest when he was taking care of other people: his cousins and friends, the Shire, and finally the whole of Middle-earth.
Grey Wonderer · 23 April 2005 · Chapter 41: Test Results
Brilliant! I am becoming quite attached to your drabbles and this one is outstanding.
Author's reply
Thank you very much! It's funny, but until I tried one, I never thought I could do a drabble; now I'm enjoying them immensely. In one way they are easier than something longer, as you don't have to worry a lot about such things as plot. In another, they are harder, as you often have to cut parts you really like to get the word count right.
Larner · 23 April 2005 · Chapter 41: Test Results
Oh, so short to be so beautiful!
Author's reply
Thank you!
Anonymous · 23 April 2005 · Chapter 40: The Pact
Very nice story and memory line of Frodo Sam,merry and pippin all in the shire. I like the pact Merry made. It was to protect pippin,and with those mean cousins of his he needed his Merry protecting him.. Very good...
Author's reply
Yes, well Merry made that pact to protect Pippin, yet in a way it protected him as well. Even though it would make it hard for them on occasion as they grew older.
Hai Took · 22 April 2005 · Chapter 40: The Pact
Splendid! I like when authors create their own universes to play in, specific characters or events. Like how certain of your characters make appearances or mentioned, like Ferdinand teaching Pippin to play the Tookland pipes, or Pippin's drinking incident, it makes it all flow better! It seems Merry will be the only sober one this evening! It was very humorous with just a hint of melancholy at the end! Loved it!
Author's reply
I learned from some other writers I admired about that. It makes life a lot easier. I am thinking Merry will have had a lot of sober evenings. I am vaguely thinking of doing one with Pip's POV about this as well. But the right bunny hasn't come along for it yet.