Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 35: In The Sitting Room
Yes, there would be homesickness for the companions of that year as well.
Thank you very much for this one, for it is one that has filled my own heart tonight.
Author's reply
I think that over the course of the Quest, the Fellowship became almost a surrogate family for the hobbits. They adopted them very quickly, and I think the love and protectiveness was mutual. In addition, Pippin also formed some firm friendships in Minas Tirith, as did Merry in Rohan.
I am glad that you found it heart-warming.
And thank you for the very pleasant surprise of an inbox full of lovely reviews! What a lovely thing to wake up to!
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 36: A Thorny Problem
Ah, bless the Tooks indeed. And I love the idea of Frodo bloodying Lotho's nose once. Yes, I am certain he deserved it fully!
Author's reply
Yes, those clever Tooks.
In "A Place for Gandalf" Lotho made the mistake of picking on Merry in front of Frodo. He never even saw it coming.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 37: Seven (Going on Thirty-nine)
A grievous foreshadowing of the leavings yet to come.
Thank you.
Author's reply
Exactly. It was the first time poor Merry was left, but certainly not the last.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 38: On the Blessed Isle
Some missings are more than others, and this one would be right up there with missing Frodo all those years.
Author's reply
I think it would. JRRT had very strong feelings on the sanctity of marriage, and did not at all feel that even death would break those bonds.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 26: Proposal
Nice and succinct, and to the point. Glad Frodo is glad.
Author's reply
I think that by this time, Frodo is already beginning the process of living vicariously through Sam...
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 25: Third Thoughts
Excellent fill-in for Henneth Annun.
Author's reply
Thank you. I've done very little stuff in the latter parts of the Quest.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 24: In the Style of Ogden Nash
I think Nash would laugh. I did.
Author's reply
I hope he would! It was fun to write.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 23: The Lady's Gift
A wonderful gapfiller. I truly love this one.
Author's reply
I was hesitant at first to try writing Galadriel--she's a bit intimidating, but I took the plunge.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 22: Lesson Learned: Spring Flood, 1433
Interesting revery from Merry.
Author's reply
Yes, the first time I tried his POV after becoming Master.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 21: Under the Lilac Bushes
Oh, I LOVE this one. Good old Gandalf!
Author's reply
*grin* I wonder if in later years, Merry thought about it, and realized what had actually happened, or if he kept his illusion that it had been wizardly "magic"?
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 20: Three Nights Out of Bree...
Nice to see Sam leading the way in the Hobbits proving themselves.
Author's reply
Well, the hobbits did not exactly make the best first impression on Strider, but Sam's sturdy practicality would have gone a long way towards helping on that score.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 19: What I Did This Summer...
Lovely story told in letters.
Author's reply
This one was fun. My Pip's a rather concise correspondent, LOL!
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 18: A Special Homecoming
Nice story, and thanks for the recipe.
Author's reply
If you should try it out, let me know how you like it.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 17: The Steward and the King
Very short, sweet, and complete.
Author's reply
Also the only story I've ever done with no hobbits in it.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 16: A Gift for Frodo
A wonderful gift for Frodo--but did you HAVE to have poor Timmy in the well? I had to giggle a bit.
Author's reply
*grin* I couldn't resist the cliche. This one was really very silly.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 15: An Appeal to Family
AHA! So, now we know how Drogo met Primula! Lovely letter!
Author's reply
Well, I figured he would have had to have gone across the River for *some* reason--and escaping Lobelia would certainly be a good one.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 14: Rest
A lovely nap, although I'm with Aragorn--sleeping in front of an audience wouldn't be my idea of proper at all. Nice, gentle story.
Author's reply
Thank you. I think at that point they were both so tired they would not have cared if the whole city was watching. But Aragorn and Frodo would look out for them.
Larner
· 20 April 2005
· Chapter 13: One of the Lads
Oh, I hope he doesn't grow fur on his feet!
Lovely glimpse at the hobbits on the quest. Lovely!
Baggins Babe
· 19 April 2005
· Chapter 37: Seven (Going on Thirty-nine)
Awww! Poor little Merry - I often wonder about that and think how upset he must have been when Frodo left Buckland.
I just love these hobbits! *sigh* Thanks, Dreamflower.
Author's reply
In my Shire, Merry was visiting Frodo at Bag End for a while at first (in my story "A Place for Gandalf"), so it didn't really hit him until he got home, and saw Frodo's bare room. And my little Merry was accustomed to climbing into bed with his cousin almost every night, something that must have been such a loss to him.
Eruanna
· 19 April 2005
· Chapter 37: Seven (Going on Thirty-nine)
*sniff* This is so sad... It reminds me of the way I felt when I went off to college, except there I was the one leaving. Your description of the stripped bed and the bare furniture really gets me...
I like the way you didn't really give this a happy ending. It makes it much more real. *sniffles again*
Blessings,
Eruanna
Author's reply
This is just the first time poor Merry gets left behind. That's what I tried to indicate with the title: he was seven the first time Frodo left him, and he was thirty-nine when he said good-bye at the Havens.
Larner
· 7 April 2005
· Chapter 12: Circle of Joy
Love this one, Dreamflower.
Author's reply
Thank you! I was really inspired by the music, which sounds so very hobbity to me! It's a lovely tune, so sprightly, it's very well-named.
Larner
· 7 April 2005
· Chapter 11: Wedding Night
Cute! Love it!
Author's reply
8-D
Thanks!
Larner
· 7 April 2005
· Chapter 10: Yule in Hollin
Ah, the need for continuity is so very great. Lovely moment. And LOVE Bilbo's handkerchiefs.
Author's reply
*grin* Everyone seemed to like them, LOL! But, really? What *else* would Bilbo give them--very practical, actually!
Larner
· 6 April 2005
· Chapter 9: At the Inn in Bree
The foreshadowing of Merry's second brush with the Black Breath, the innocence being lost by Pippin.
Author's reply
This was really where the hazards of the Quest began to catch up to them; the Old Forest and the Barrow Downs were a preliminary to the Black Riders catching up to them.
I always felt that Merry's brush with the Shadow in Bree had been downplayed a bit, and Pippin had to know Merry was affected more than he was letting on.
Larner
· 6 April 2005
· Chapter 8: Making Time for Music
Again, a wonderful glimpse of one of the brief moments between.
Author's reply
Most of my "Quest" stories are very brief. My longer stories tend to be pre- or post-Quest. I am glad you liked it.