Bodkin
· 7 March 2005
· Chapter 18: Bed and Breakfast
Poor Ossilan - I shouldn't think he knows whether he's coming or going. What with Merimac, Saradoc and Pippin - and then there's Diamond about to give birth. He must be rather wishing he'd taken on a quieter posting.
Trust Pippin to rouse up in full form, though - not happy to wake up and moan gently, he has to revive in mid-jest. His remembered part of the NDE is enough to keep him going back to Tookland, which is probably to the good - except for Ferdi, of course, but it's a shame that he didn't remember the part about his mother loving him. (Speaking as one, of course.) I must say I could do without seedcake or apple tart for breakfast - but then, my hobbit credentials are definitely lacking.
I'm happy to see a relieved, if sorrowful, Merry, Diamond and Estella. If one had to die, better it should be Uncle Badger than our hero, who has yet a lot to do.
Author's reply
Poor Ossilan--he probably thought he dodged the bullet (what would a hobbity term be?) when he went to be healer to the Brandybucks rather than to the Tooks!
Pippin never does things by halves, does he? We do so love to write him as "larger than life" even if he is little more than half-sized, by some measure.
Poor Uncle Badger, I've grown quite fond of the cheerful curmudgeon.
Saoirse
· 7 March 2005
· Chapter 18: Bed and Breakfast
O, I just *loved* that metaphor with Paladin and the plough-pony -- excellent! And O, how sweet... Merry and Pippin do have lovely lasses to look after them (I'd like to find something written from their perspectives someplace, it would be quite interesting to see solely their lady-hobbit observations on their (sometimes) stubborn and silly husbands. :) Great job! And another thing... I love this:
' ‘Pippin!’ Diamond said again. Estella raised her head from Merry’s to look, and then she began to whisper urgently in her husband’s ear. Merry looked up slowly, his face ravaged by grief and self-blame, not daring to hope'
It was from the last chapter but I remembered it and wanted to say I liked it.
Keep up the wonderful work :)
Author's reply
Thank you!
It is always nice to hear what people love (or don't love, for that matter, though the latter is more *helpful* than "nice", really... LOL).
I would love to write from their perspective, but I haven't heard their voices whispering in that way, yet. The closest I've come is from the narrator's point of view, in "A Small and Passing Thing", when Estella makes her transformation from "Tilly" back to "Estella" again.
Ariel
· 7 March 2005
· Chapter 0: Prologue
Yep... this one is next. LOL!
Author's reply
Enjoy!
(Though I must admit, the angst in one chapter was too much for even me... *g*)
FantasyFan
· 7 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
Wow, these are a couple of powerful chapters. Integrating Pippin's illness into his memories of fire was well done. Paladin as Denethor was completely believeable given Pip's history with his father. I'm sure there was more than one time Pippin felt like the Thain was willing to sacrifice him. And at the end, you know Pippin can't die, but I didn't know how you would get him past the crisis. Poor, poor Merry!
I felt just about as disoriented at the beginnig of this chapter as Pippin. I couldn't understand what was going on, how he was well, but then I remembered when Farry died in the cave-in story, and how he floated, and tried to interact with those around him, and didn't know he was dead. Pippin was dead then, but I was confused about Merrimac, who could interact with him. It took me nearly through the chapter to understand that Merrimac was dead too - I had not been expecting it at all. Pippin trying to care about the dead hobbit in the tub, and caring about his mother and Merry, but being unable to sustain feelings of upset was a comforting sort of thing. I also liked very much the idea that the Brandybucks had settled Pippin and taught him through kindness and affirmation (a lesson we could all stand to have reinforced). In Merimac's words, there are nice echos of Frodo's naming of Sam's children, and how the Thorn in the Shire Beginnings story was given to see some of the future as he died. I guess it was his time to go, and he had no regrets, and it certainly wraps up very neatly how Pippin never learned of Ferdi's ban. Merrimac can be content that even in his death, he continued to protect and serve - preventing a tragedy that certainly would have cut short a lot of fiction!
Author's reply
*hugs*
Glad to know you're reading. Someone else pointed out the Pippin/Paladin relationship in my story was eerily like Faramir/Denethor and some of this story just grew out of that observation, made some time ago.
Merimac had no regrets; he'd lived life to the fullest and loved to the best of his ability. Now he could look foward to the Feast, and since he'd been granted a glimpse of Eternity before he left, he had perfect confidence in saying what he did say to Pippin.
I have a young one reading me her own hobbit story at the moment, so I had better stop pondering and get offline and *listen*!
Thanks!
Grey Wonderer
· 7 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
‘Honestly!’ he said in his perturbation. ‘Can’t a fellow have a bath in decent privacy? What is the matter with all you folk?’
I loved that! So like Pippin to make a joke in spite of the situation.
I also love how you managed to see to it that Merimac explained a portion of his message and gave Pippin word of his mother, but decided to keep the rest quiet. It works wonderfully well and explains why Pippin never found out about the ban. I was sad to see Merimac die, but he seemed so at peace with it all that I found it strangely comforting. Do hope that was what you were going for there. LOL
I also like that the Hobbit after-life is refered to as "the feast". Very fitting indeed!
Author's reply
Yes, that is what I was going for there: I figured Merimac had already glimpsed Eternity and was allowed to linger for a few moments to talk to Pippin. Sort of like the ghost stories of our world, about people who had to "finish some business" before going to their rest.
Yes, I am comforted, when a character in a story must die, to think of the "unending feast, where there is no time and no tears, and all you ever lost is restored to you".
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 7 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
Some near- (well, almost post-) death experience.
I'm glad he was able to have a few words with Uncle Badger. I hope he remembers them - even to the words about not telling him the whole truth because it would lead to his and Merry's death. Mind you, if he remembers, he won't have to think about what names to give his offspring, as Unc has just told him.
Oh well, he'll just have to remain ignorant. And alive. On the whole, it's probably better.
Author's reply
Ignorant, and alive. Yes, better, I'd say, than wise, and dead.
Pippin will remember a little bit of his conversation with Merimac, but not much. And he won't remember it as a conversation, as such. More plausible that way.
Thanks!
Hai Took
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
Wow! Gracious that was frightening! For everyone to be so worried and then for Pippin to come to very much himself. I'm glad that the Badger was able to speak with Pippin. I was wondering how you were going to work around Pippin being so sick yet riding out to Tookland. How terrible it would have been for Saradoc to loose his brother and his nephew! That Merimac was able to see what would have happened and to see the children in Pippin's future and even who people were like Faramir and all. Very well done and exciting! I hope there's a little more though, of course there would have to be wouldn't there? I mean after all this story is about their first son being named! Looking forward to more!
Author's reply
...and Pippin is "very much himself" in the next chapter. Whew. We've got through the tunnel and are back in the sunlight again.
And yes, it won't be over until you see the chapter entitled "Epilogue". Just need to tie up a few loose ends, yet. Thanks!
Connie B.
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
Wow! That was... I can't describe it. I would never have guessed the Merimac was about to die. Now I guess Pippin's going to have to find a different motivation to return home. Guess it is good though that Merimac wasn't able to tell him the whole situation if it would have caused both Pippin and Merry to meet an untimely end. That was too weird. I mean that in a good way.
Now I'm really curious about what's going to happen now that Pippin is beginning to recover.
Thanks for having Merimac forshadow the births of all eight of Pippin's children. I never can seem to remember all their names or the birth order. It was nice having them all conveniantly listed.
Thanks.
Connie B.
Author's reply
If you look in the Family Trees in Appendix C you'll see Merimac's death date. It sort of worked into this story. Otherwise I would have had to bonk the hobbit on the head and had him suffer amnesia!
After all, we *know* that Pippin doesn't return to Tookland for another four years, and when he *does* it's clear he didn't know about Ferdi and the Ban.
Well, now you have a nice list of all the little Tooks! Glad it's a convenience.
Thanks.
Larner
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
A bath in privacy he's demanding? After all that????
Love it! Sorry to see the Badger go, but glad he was glad of it.
Author's reply
Yes, in my view of the hobbit afterlife, "it is an unending feast, where there is no time, and no tears, and all you've ever lost is restored to you".
Which means that just about the same moment Merimac arrives at the feast, his family and loved ones will meet him there, even after living long and full lives. What a concept!
Pearl Took
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
Capital!!!! Marvelous!! A wonderful near death/death experience!!! Awesome!! And my little brother lives!! What more could I ask from a chapter? ??? Nothing :)
Author's reply
Lovely! So glad you enjoyed it. And the next chapter is a treat, with Pippin up to his usual standard, IMHO.
Dreamflower
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 17: Heart-to-Heart with an Old Badger
Oh that was splendidly done! I love that Merimac was able to give Pippin the truly important message: that his mother loved him and was well. And I loved the way he was able to tell him a bit of what is to come, though I wonder how much of it he will remember when he recovers.
Of course, everyone will be very sad about Merimac, but I am glad that he got in one last thing before he left!
You asked about the Denethor/Faramir, Pippin/Paladin nightmare. I actually used that in my very first story, "When the King Comes Back (the Great Smials)". I don't think my use of it was nearly as vivid as yours, though.
Author's reply
Ah, thank you. Steered you wrong, a little earlier, when I referred to Merimac's "swan song". This was really it. But it was a good ending for Merimac, the best I could do for him, and I think it is the ambition of every hobbit to die peacefully in his sleep after a fine meal and satisfying smoke (and relaxing bath, if needed).
You're right about his not remembering much, as will come out in the final chapter before the Epilogue. (And the final chapter is scheduled to be the next posted, unless it splits itself in half. I simply cannot post much over 3,000 words at a time with our slow connexion!)
Thank you for the "steer" to your story. Your first? Very well done, indeed. And I do appreciate the direction, for you are among the ranks of prolific writers (join the Club!) and I didn't (and still don't, though I wish I did) have time to go through each one on the list in search of Pippin's nightmare...
...though of course you are on my "want to read" list...
Perhaps if our schedule ever slows down, and I have more time to read again. I can print out chapters to take to the playground, perhaps. (I'm still trying to read more than half a chapter at a time of Larner's epic tale! And then there's your Pippin-as-a-minstrel story that I never finished, and Auntiemeesh's Cormallen pieces, and Thundera Tiger's latest... whew. At least I'll never be bored.)
Eruvyweth
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
Ohhhhhh, that was cruel. : ) But wonderful.
You'd better finish this soon. I LOVE a good angst.
Author's reply
Lovely to hear from you. Your least wish is my greatest desire. New chapter posted, only a couple more to go. (This is one of those medium-length, 19- or 20-chapter stories.)
Thanks!
Andrea
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
OMG! You warned me, but I couldn't resist reading it anyway.
That was so dramatic! But Pippin has to be alright, for he still has to name his son, hasn't he?
Great job! Please update soon!
Author's reply
Well, at least you can't say you weren't warned!
True, Pippin *has* to be all right, for I haven't labelled this story as AU! (I write very little deliberate AU, unless it's satire, and this is definitely not satire. Most of my "serious" AU has been due to mistakes made, usually in calculating dates. Math is not my strong suit.)
Thanks!
Anso the Hobbit
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
Ah, several new chapters and I hadn`t noticed! Well, here`s another four-chapters-in-one review.
Of course you now have me wonder what happened to Merry the last time he was late? lol!
I`m not going to compare Pippin to a cat, but I do wonder how many lives he has? He really has a rough time of it with this fever and lying on the brink of death so many times as he has. Of course, he`s resillient and a very stubborn hobbit, but poor, poor Pippin! That delirium is horrible. My heart goes out to him and Merry and the Brandybucks too for not being able to get through to him. And then Pippin has a sight of his own, or the delirium is mingled with the future!
I think it is very nice that Paladin sees Pippin and Farry in the future, knowing that he will return and be Thain. It comforts him and makes the picture I have of your Paladin as Thain soften a little.
You do know how to leave a poor reader on the edge, but I love it!
Please give us more soon though! I`m worried for our hobbits.
Author's reply
Well, gave you some Merry angst for your reading diversion. (see next chapter for details)
BTW, hope you can have patience on the story we talked about, for our computer has developed a mysterious something (virus? worm? Trojan horse?) and until dh figures out how to eradicate it for good and all I'm not sending anyone any files.
Yes, poor Pippin, he does have a number of lives, it seems. JRRT took care of at least one, and I think with all of us fanfic writers on the job he needs more lives than a cat... and I've done more than my share, in all likelihood.
I'm glad your picture of Paladin has softened a little. I do have some feeling for that hobbit, even when he exasperates me.
Thanks!
Beruthiel
· 6 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woe to anyone who tries to keep you from the computer to update!!
Author's reply
Sick children can be a convenience, sometimes. Stayed home with one this morning, as a matter of fact, and while she was napping I was able to type in the next chapter.
So there you go. Just a bit more to the story now.
Thanks!
Grey Wonderer
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
Loved how well you've connected Pippin's fever to his memories of Denethor, his own father and, naturally, Faramir. Very well done. I also am enjoying the closeness between Pippin and Merry in this one. I think that is why I like the Young Steward stories best. It all happens before responsibility puts limits on them both.
Author's reply
Thank you!
I had been away from the "Young Steward" stories for awhile. I had started to fall into a formulaic style and needed to break away and "get fresh".
I think I managed, for this story has little resemblance to "To Get to the Top" and (now I cannot remember the name of the story where Merry is pinned under a tree in a flood...). There is so much more scope to the characters than "so-and-so gets in trouble and somehow his cousin *knows* and goes in search and rescues him". No matter how much fun such stories are to write (and read). LOL.
Elenar
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
The horrible dream where he associates Paladin with Denethor, poor Pippin! He can't give up now!
I can't wait for the next chapter!
Author's reply
Things look pretty grim, but there's help about to arrive from a surprising source. So hang in there!
And thanks for taking the time to comment.
Connie B.
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
I hope Pippin doesn't remember any of the things he's dreaming in this fevered state. It's scary that in his imagination he's associated his father with Denethor. Not a good comparison.
Good chapter, even if it is a cliffhanger.
Thanks.
Connie B.
Author's reply
Interesting. Another author and I were having a discussion about Pippin and Merry and their fathers. Some think Merry had a bad relationship with his father, because of the way he said to Theoden "You shall be as a father to me." Others say that he was able to say this because he had such a *good* relationship with his father. Some say that Pippin must have had a good relationship with his father, I forget what their reasoning is, and others seem to draw a parallel between Pippin-Paladin and Faramir-Denethor. I'm sure my idea here, linking the Steward and the Thain, is not original, but rather borne out of such discussions.
However, when I first started writing I arbitrarily assigned Merry a good relationship with his father, and Pippin a poor one. I didn't know anything about fanfic, had never discussed such things with anyone, and so I can state with a clear conscience that the relationships as I wrote them (in "Jewels")were my own idea.
And it's just grown from there, though sometimes I'd like to "take it all back" and give Paladin and Pippin a close, warm, and loving relationship instead.
Thanks!
Larner
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
No, Pippin, you can't give in now!
No, wait--that's said to Frodo in movieverse, isn't it?
What original wait can I throw at the poor Hobbit?
Cliffhanger!
Author's reply
Throwing things at delirious hobbits? Is that like kicking someone when he's down?
Yes. It is a cliffhanger. You're right about that.
(Hoping to have time to type in more Monday, if not before.)
Pearl Took
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
He'll be alright. He'll be alright. He'll be alright.
won't he?
Author's reply
Does it help to say I'm a firm believer in happy endings?
*hugs*
Dreamflower
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 16: Drowning in Fire
*whoosh*lets out breath*can't hold breath till next update*
Look, I *know* Pippin's going to be okay--I mean, I've seen the timeline, and you didn't say this was AU.
So why am I all tense and worried anyway?
This was also an excellent use of the nightmare about Denethor/Faramir morphing into Paladin/Pippin. I used that one myself some time back. It only makes sense for the identification to be there when there is a bit of tension between them (or in your case, outright estrangement).
And I loved Diamond's logic--she would hold Merry's hand, and send her love to Pippin through him. Somehow that seems a very hobbity way of looking at the situation.
Author's reply
Sneaking online for a moment...
Which story was that, where you contrasted Denethor/Faramir with Paladin/Pippin? Sounds interesting, and now that I've finished writing this story (just a couple more chapters to be posted, unless they split themselves in the editing), I'd love to read it.
Very glad to hear that Diamond's logic made sense. We're studying electricity right now, and while it would be a foreign notion to a hobbit, the image sticks with me, somehow. (So how to explain it in hobbity terms? Merry, a conductor of love. Interesting concept.)
Thanks! (More by Monday, I hope.)
Bodkin
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 15: The Rising Flames
This is such a strain for poor Merry. And I don't like to think how Diamond is coping. But I can certainly see why the new arrival gets the name of Faramir.
I hope the rising flames burn the fever out - just in time for the next crisis to strike!
Author's reply
Next crisis? Coming right up.
Poor Diamond, but you know that diamonds are made of strong stuff, don't you?
And I definitely think Merry's going to need a holiday when all this is done.
Thanks!
Hai Took
· 5 March 2005
· Chapter 15: The Rising Flames
Oh dear! To be trapped in nightmares and for them to not even be the same as what really happened! The flames, even though they are of fever, burning him as he tries to find Gandalf in delirium! It must be terrible for the others to witness as well, for Pippin to be so sick and none of them able to do anything about it. How hard! I hope more is soon!
Author's reply
It is simply awful, and I cannot believe I'm doing this...
Thanks!
Larner
· 4 March 2005
· Chapter 15: The Rising Flames
Excellent mix of book and original, and so heartrending.
Author's reply
Ah, thank you!
I look forward to next week's slightly less hectic schedule. Perhaps I can sneak in a bit more reading...
Dreamflower
· 4 March 2005
· Chapter 15: The Rising Flames
Poor Pippin! (I seem to be saying that a lot lately?) Forced to relive the siege and all its terror.
How hard all this must be for Merry, not able to get through to him this time.
Author's reply
"this time" --ah, you caught that. I had this funny flash while writing, of Pippin and Merry in Crickhollow, Pippin dreaming, Merry unable to sleep, holding complete conversations... and somehow Pippin's wit (like his crack about "Nose?") would comfort Merry, restore his perspective, and allow him to drop off and sleep. And somehow Merry would, at the same time, be able to jog Pippin out of the rut his nightmare thoughts were running in and onto a different path.
I hope I'm making sense. This is Day 2 of Kicking Coffee.