This and That by Lindelea
shirebound · 13 August 2006 · Chapter 19: Til Death Us Do Part
He was surrounded, and they were seizing him from all sides, and some of them had sharp claws, and he thought for a panicked moment of Bilbo and the goblins. Poor Pippin! *giggles*
Author's reply
Poor little lad. Bet it took him a long time to live this one down. Can't you hear Eglantine telling the story over tea...?
Larner · 13 August 2006 · Chapter 14: The 25th of March, S.R. 1419, the Woody End
Reading and reviewing this again, for it is so marvelously done, Lindelea. The moment when the Ring goes down, the fear and terror when It takes Frodo and then is destroyed anyway.... And the destruction of Mordor felt so very far away by some who loved Pippin best! A marvelous tale.
Author's reply
Much belated thanks for stopping and leaving a good word. I don't know what happened, that I don't seem to have seen so many reviews. I don't know if this reply will go to your current email or an old one, but in any event, here's hoping you and yours are keeping well.
Dreamflower · 13 August 2006 · Chapter 19: Til Death Us Do Part
Oh! ROTFL! Oh! *wipes eyes*grins* Dana's going to *love* this one!! And what a nice little change from angst! This is adorable--poor Pippin! I love his suspicion and his stubborn defiance, even in the face of being *tied up*! (Oh, yes, Dana will *love* this all right!) Poor little fella! *snicker* It's a good thing though, that Merry didn't tumble to what the lasses had in mind, or he might have attempted the sort of rescue he made Ferdi a few years earlier...
Author's reply
Yes, I tried to get a few of Dana's fav themes in. Pippin-and-Estella. Pippin-tied-up. Poor Pip, at least they didn't dress him up in finery!
Pearl Took · 24 July 2006 · Chapter 18: Bloom of Sunshine, Bloom of Gold
Bravo! Bravo!! Bravisimo!!! This was a wonderful story :) I love Mari and Merry's initial discomfort with, well, everthing it seemed, to then just doing what needed to be done and laughing over it all. The anxiety and horror you painted for the family and the searchers was also spot on! MEWD!!!!
Author's reply
Thank you! It was so nice to write a story that was more comfort and comedy than angst!
Elemmírë · 24 July 2006 · Chapter 18: Bloom of Sunshine, Bloom of Gold
I really enjoyed this sweet, humorous, tale of the misadventures of Mari & Merry. Their characters were so wonderful to read; I especially enjoyed Marigold's practicality and throwing some propriety to the wind. I just love how Merry was rolled up The Hill in a wheelbarrow at the end! LOL!! P.S. You've also inspired me with a chapter title for an upcoming series of mine.
Author's reply
A chapter title for an upcoming series? But now you have me curious! Are you going to let me know when I can read it? Thanks!
Pearl Took · 23 July 2006 · Chapter 17: A Breath of Fresh Air
These were both wonderful :) Well done indeed!
Author's reply
Thank you!
harrowcat · 23 July 2006 · Chapter 18: Bloom of Sunshine, Bloom of Gold
This is lovely and so sweet. If this is a product of a heatwave then long may it continue. Oh, oh, only joking........ really I am hating every minute of it!
Author's reply
Oh, I hate heatwaves too. Now we're back to "normal" summer temperatures. Normally a little too warm for my blood, but twenty degrees cooler than the unbearable heat we had a little while ago, so who am I to complain? Actually, I have a little more writing time than I had before, and hope to continue at least until the school year gears up again. Will keep pegging away just so long as the Muse keeps whispering. (And so long as people keep giving me feedback, so that I don't have the feeling I'm just talking to myself. You know what they say about people who talk to themselves! Amazing how motivating such a thing can be. I thank you, once more, for yours.)
Dreamflower · 22 July 2006 · Chapter 18: Bloom of Sunshine, Bloom of Gold
What fun to see this here, all in one piece! It was delightful to read it bit by bit on LJ, but it flows much better as one long story! It so makes me grin! Merry is just so lovely in it, and so is little Marigold!
Author's reply
Yes, and now that it's finished I can start working on *your* belated birthday present, and then Bodkin's, and gotta squeeze Dana's (which promises to be delightful, if there's anything in the grin that comes over my face all unknowing whenever I think of it) in somewhere. Whew!
harrowcat · 9 July 2006 · Chapter 17: A Breath of Fresh Air
It is taking me a while to catch up with the reviews that I missed doing last week but here I am at last. I feel like a child with late homework but this is too good not to review! But now I have got to go back and re-read Flames. What a chore! :)
Author's reply
That's ok, it is taking me a while to catch up with *answering* reviews! Re-read Flames, what fun! (I love it when something prompts me to re-visit an old tale, mine or someone else's.)
Bodkin · 7 July 2006 · Chapter 17: A Breath of Fresh Air
Some higher power must have been on Pippin's side (the author?) to keep him alive long enough for Sam to provide the remedy. It must have made Faramir a very mature lad for his age - he spent most of his childhood expecting to lose his father.
Author's reply
Author, Muse, or arbitrary-ness of a timeline, perhaps? No, wait, it would have to be JRRT, for he's the one who said Pippin had to survive until whatever year it was he went to Gondor for the last time, and a while after. But he didn't say much about what happened in those intervening years...
demeter d · 7 July 2006 · Chapter 4: Something to Do before the End
I see by the posting dates of the other reviews that this beautiful piece has been out for over a year. I am so glad that I finally found it. I knew who this was when the first soldier called him "Captain", even before Pippin named him. In life, his every thought was for his city, and Gondor, and his family. Even after a moment of weakness, he died defending two others whom he had added to tha list of those he loved. From Pippin describing him as a kind friend in the books, I have come to believe that Merry and Pippin became like the sons that he had never had.The detail of Pippin becoming more or less substantial to Boromir as he flickered in and out of life was wonderfully done. It is reminiscent of the descriptions of Frodo and Sam's sojourns in the shadowy world one enters when wearing The One Ring. I read once a story where a little girl made friends with the ghost of another girl who had once lived in her house but died in an accident. When she became a teenager, the modern day girl found a way to go back in time to her friend and prevent the accident. In the past, the modern girl appearred like a ghost to her friend.i like the whole notion of " just what is real?". It is always good to read stories where Boromir and Denethor find themselves again "on the other side." Tolkien wrote them both as noble men who had been briefly overcome by the Darkness that they fought, although Boromir was able to fight back before his end. A very nice touch, that Denethor, who was a stickler for rules, would have pardoned Beregond in gratitude for saving his son. I would have liked to think so, too. Now there is another story I will have to go back and find, as right now I can not remember who wrote it. It shows Aragorn passing through the Paths of the Dead, with the dead following behind him. Only, one of the ghosts is an old companion. Boromir rides beside him and tells him he will be with him in the fight to free his beloved city. Your piece reminded me of that one. Whew, I hope that this was not inappropriately long. But I very much enjoyed this story.!
Author's reply
Not too long at all, but I fear I'm terribly belated in my reply. There was a time last year, I think, when I wasn't getting reviews in my email. I just now ran across this one. Very insightful--I'm glad you caught that detail of Pippin becoming more "solid" to Boromir when he was closer to death. The story of the two girls sounds familiar, though I can't quite place it. The story you mentioned about the Paths of the Dead sounds fascinating--did you ever find it? Thanks.
demeter d · 6 July 2006 · Chapter 6: Heart Calls to Heart
Just received "A Breath..." and am catching up on a few of your older ones which I had not gotten to, yet. This is heart-tugging. it could indeed be any of the friends, especially Sam. I, too, enjoy the happy-ending AUs. But Tolkien's sad endings give me a hope that our own bitter-sweet lives are not entirely without light and hope. Nicely done!
demeter d · 6 July 2006 · Chapter 16: Rendering
Quietly sweet. The good professor called Elrond wise, strong, and "kind as summer." His home had become a refuge against the very darkness which had taken her from it. I am sure that her memory helped keep him strong for that fight. A nice moment, here. Sam was the one of the Hobbits who looked out for the feelings of others.Perhaps he has a bit of insight, now, that Elrond needs help and encouragement, too. Very nice!
demeter d · 6 July 2006 · Chapter 17: A Breath of Fresh Air
I will have to read "Flames" now. that piece was indeed very good. But I also like yours. Interesting the transition from the memory of not being able to breath when under that troll, and slowly coming back to the realization of here and now. I suppose none of our Travelers got off without some "Anniversary" ailments, things that were never quite the same after their ordeals and haunted them the rest of their lives. Lovely description, I felt like I was under the "croup tent" with them. I especially like Miss Woodruff, whenever she appears. She is a strong and compassionate friend, so well drawn that she really seems like someone I know. Well done.
Author's reply
Well, if you do read "Flames" I would love to hear your reactions. Used to suffer croup as a child, and have one of my own who periodically wakes up barking like a seal, in the dark hours of the morning, and has to be steamed into breathing again. Am glad you like Woodruff. I've grown rather fond of her, myself, over the past few years.
Dreamflower · 6 July 2006 · Chapter 17: A Breath of Fresh Air
Lin, this is just *gorgeous*! My email's not been loading very easily today, so this is the first I've seen it! Wow!
Author's reply
Am belated in answering reviews, but thanks!
Bodkin · 23 June 2006 · Chapter 16: Rendering
A time when Elrond probably needed a reminder of Celebrian and happier times - and a promise of reunion in the future. I'm glad Sam got to see the rendering. He might well be the only hobbit who did!
Pearl Took · 22 June 2006 · Chapter 16: Rendering
So very touching, Lin. I read it several times and caught a bit of something different every time. Wonderfully done!
Nilmandra · 22 June 2006 · Chapter 16: Rendering
Oh, wonderful, Lindelea! I love it. I know the 'perfect recall' of the elves and some think that perhaps portraits were unnecessary, but I believe that only made them more likely to reproduce things of great beauty. Surely Elrond had a portrait of Celebrian like this. Thank you very much. :>)
harrowcat · 21 June 2006 · Chapter 16: Rendering
You do paint your pictures well - and with such an economy of words. Loved your Sam made clumsy with tiredness.
Dreamflower · 20 June 2006 · Chapter 16: Rendering
How lovely! Poor tired Sam, and kind Elrond. A very nice combination indeed. And you quite make me wish I could *see* the "rendering".
shirebound · 20 June 2006 · Chapter 16: Rendering
What a nice scene between Sam and Elrond! :D
Pearl Took · 18 June 2006 · Chapter 15: They Also Serve
*sigh* Yes, Rosie knew what she was talking about :) And the Shire lived!!
Bodkin · 18 June 2006 · Chapter 15: They Also Serve
Poor Marigold. Being hungry and cold while in your own home - even if it's a shed - must be dreadful for hobbits. Being hungry and cold and frightened to go out and separated from your love and most of your family, not knowing if your brother is alive or dead and knowing that the persecution of your kind is getting worse and worse. Lying down and giving up must have been the outcome of choice for a fair few hobbits, I should think. Especially among the sick and elderly. I love the heroic knightly Sam who arrives to save the Shire. OK - so he brought the other Travellers - but for Marigold and Rose, this is the hero that matters most!
Pearl Took · 18 June 2006 · Chapter 14: The 25th of March, S.R. 1419, the Woody End
I can see the Tooks using traps and hunting methods to guard their land. This is well thought out :)
Author's reply
Thanks! JRRT never did give us any specifics of how the Tooks kept the ruffians out, though he *did* say somewhere that there was very little loss of life. Can't remember the specifics now, and I'm on my way to bed... So I guess it'll remain just a foggy memory. Still, it was fun to imagine what the Tooks might have done.
Pearl Took · 18 June 2006 · Chapter 13: In Memorium
A wonderful and sobering wee tale. Well done as always, m'dear :)