Leaward
· 2 September 2005
· Chapter 12: Day of Reckoning
I'd started reading this a while back and got distracted by real life. I love the author's notes at the bottom, I'll have to remember them when I'm writing my own tales -- if it's good enough for the professor to ignore potatoes and pipeweed, then we can have a little licence too. Anyway, I wanted to say I'm really enjoying this story, and I think you've made a lovely tale of Frodo and Hyacinth along the lines of Cyrano de Bergerac but you've brought it alive with incredible detail based on the 'canon' of real life. Wonderfully done, Inkling.
Author's reply
Thanks Lea! I'm glad you rediscovered this and enjoyed the rest of it, and appreciate your letting me know. I remember the note you sent me way back when I first starting posting it...ever since I can't think about Clive without thinking of your dad! *snicker!*
estelnalissi
· 17 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Happily Ever After
What a deeply moving, bitter sweet ending you have written for Frodo and Hyacinth.It must go beyond bitter sweet because my throat is still constricted and my eyes wet. While writing the final epilogue, were you feeling emotional?
There were lighter moments as when Buttercup so obviously and uselessly cast her net for Frodo and when little Pippen streaked through begging to be saved.
How naughty of you to describe Frodo so ravishingly through Hyacinth's eyes, dark curls framing his face, gentle sensitivity, filled out nicely...You were toying with us! I was sitting down while I read it but I declare I went weak in the knees!
Gentle sensitivity aptly describes more than the look in Frodo's eyes. It describes your delicate and meaningful scripting of this chance meeting. Frodo is still stirred by hyacinth and she appreciates more fully the honor he paid her with his regard. Her husband is a trial, but then, she has 4 treasures. Frodo is reasured his poetry wasn't the deciding factor in her choice of her spouse. Their waltze softens the finality of this last parting and perhaps her husband may even be more appreciative of her at least for a while.Inevitably, Frodo, who lost his parents, and is about to lose Bilbo, has lost in love and those little treasures won't be his. Alas we know Frodo's future and his innocent, exilerating, whirl wind of first love was all too brief. You were the perfect custodian of this tale of Frodo's first love and his hard won attainment of maturity.
Author's reply
Estelnalissi, thank you so much for your lovely and perceptive appreciation of this final chapter. I think there’s no better feeling as an author than to know that someone has picked up on the nuances…
Was I feeling emotional while writing it? It’s hard to say, because when I’m writing, I’m so focused on finding the right words to express the story I can see in my mind that I’m not sure I’m even aware of how I’m feeling. But once it was finished, I got emotional reading it, strange though it may seem to be affected by one’s own writing. For me the saddest moment is when Frodo says, “May I have the honor of this dance, Mrs. Took?” There’s something about hobbit restraint that gets to me every time!
I’m glad you liked the description of Frodo! ;)
And the waltz…since I know you like verse, you will appreciate these lyrics that Endymion sent me in a review over at ff.net:
Not all that long ago
You went your separate way;
I rallied from the blow
So here we are today.
A world for you and me
Was never meant to be
I am extremely chagrined to confess that until she told me, I didn’t know these were the words to the Merry Widow Waltz! And yet isn’t that amazing, that they fit the scene so perfectly?
Anyway, thanks again for your kind words and please do keep in touch…and you will certainly be hearing my cries for help with Elvish one of these days!
lovethosehobbits
· 15 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Happily Ever After
Lovely, just wonderful, yet so sad and bittersweet. I have read along without reviewing and am so sorry for that. I feel for our Fro' and his long journey that still awaits him tree
Author's reply
Thanks tree, but no need to apologize...plus, didn't you review it over at ff.net? (unless there are TWO lovethosehobbits running around!) Anyway, I'm so glad you liked it, bittersweet though it was.
good_one_pip
· 11 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Happily Ever After
That was a perfect ending for this story. Painful, yes, but Frodo's life was full of pain wasn't it? In the attitude and spirit of Frodo that you've captured, I can see the ringbearer he will become at the end of Bilbo's speech. You grasped the emotions of the stories, both All's Fair and Terror of Buckland, perfectly and drew them into a perfect conclusion. Thank you for this story! I've certainly enjoyed it.
Author's reply
Thanks Pip, I’m so glad you liked the ending and thought it fit the story…sad endings can be difficult, both to write and to accept. And since I know you read the two stories back to back, it’s interesting hearing that the conclusion seemed to work for both of them. I certainly see them as closely connected myself. Your comments are greatly appreciated!
Andrea
· 11 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Happily Ever After
"Perhaps, after all, this was what it truly meant to grow up: you carry on, do what you must—happy ending or no."
That's what life teaches us all. And Frodo lived according to it: Happy ending or no, you always have to carry on!
A perfect ending to a wonderful story. Thank you, Inkling :)
Author's reply
And thank you, Andrea, for all your kind and detailed reviews…I really looked forward to them! The life lesson you mention is one of many that struck me in LOTR, and I wanted to express it in this fic. I’m glad it resonated with you, too.
Larner
· 10 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Happily Ever After
Ah, I knew the names were familiar, and now I know why! Once on a Time used to be one of my favorites, with the decision to be very bad, and then very good. Heh! And bless you for quoting the cockroach and the cat! Mom named her first car mehitibel, by the way.
But, poor Frodo, coming to this realization on that night, of all nights. Sweet Hobbit that he was.
Author's reply
Yes, too bad I couldn’t find a way to fit Belgrane in somewhere! And LOL about your mom’s car! Thanks, Larner.
Nina the powerwriter
· 10 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Cold Comfort
I read this entire story (save for the epilogues) about a week ago. Talk about a way of putting things! I enjoyed your approach to Frodo's life at Brandy Hall. It was very interesting and different, and the story twisted in some clever ways. I can see why frodo would of been turn off by the fact of having a relationship after what happen with Hyacinth! She just sort of left him hanging and never came back.
This first epilogue is quite sad (and creepy, lol), but also has that feeling of satifaction too. I have really enjoyed reading this story. Good job on it :)
Author's reply
Nina, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my somewhat different take on this period of Frodo’s life…thanks so much for letting me know! Hope you felt the conclusion brought some resolution to things…that was my goal, anyway!
Ariel
· 10 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Happily Ever After
If he tousles my hair, I’ll kill him, thought Frodo.
ROTFLMAO!!!
Lovely, lovely tale, my friend! I enjoyed it thouroughly! Encore! Encore!
Author's reply
Thank you, my dear! I’m glad you enjoyed it and appreciate so much all your support for this story. And now to get to work on that encore…!
Andrea
· 5 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Cold Comfort
"I don’t think it’s possible for every character in a story to have a happy ending." Frodo is right here! He doesn't know yet, that this will be his own fate, but maybe this experience will help him later, to understand "the pattern" and hopefully, it will ease his heart a bit.
Tolkien said, that the name "Frodo" means "Wise by experience". I think, this is one of the experiences that made him wiser.
There is not always a happy ending, but sometimes I wish, Frodo would have married. He would have lived a happy life with his wife and children and would never have been appointed ringbearer. But this story would never have been told!
Author's reply
Yes, there is definitely some foreshadowing intended in Frodo’s words. And the meaning of his name has been very much in my mind as I wrote this story. Hopefully this will come across in the final chapter.
There is not always a happy ending, but sometimes I wish, Frodo would have married. He would have lived a happy life with his wife and children and would never have been appointed ringbearer. But this story would never have been told!
True, and what of the Ring? If Frodo had not been Ringbearer and Sauron had recovered it somehow, no one, including Frodo and his family, would have had a happy ending. So either way, happiness was not to be Frodo’s fate…sigh.
Thanks Andrea!
Larner
· 3 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Cold Comfort
Aha--at last we know the bitter truth--he dropped a blob of paint on the picture and fixed it by making it into boots! Lovely thinking!
I wonder if there was a need to rush things between Hyacinth and Coronel, and grieve at this foreshadowing of Frodo's own fate. No, not all ends happily here in the mortal lands. He had too much the right of it, I grieve to say.
Author's reply
A need to rush things? Well, let’s just say that if not for Sam’s presence Bilbo would have been making jokes about crossbow weddings! ;)
Yes, poor Frodo is starting to understand how the world is…if deserving had “much to do with it,” how different the ending of LOTR would have been!
Thanks Larner.
Ps—next week mehitabel will finally have her say…can you guess what that might be?
Ariel
· 3 June 2005
· Chapter 9999: Cold Comfort
Oh, did I see that coming! Poor Frodo! I have much more to say on this chapter (which I loved) but no time to say it! Can't wait for the next - justice served!
Author's reply
Thanks my dear…I’ll be very interested in your reaction to the grand finale!
good_one_pip
· 30 May 2005
· Chapter 13: Childhood's End
"Promise me you'll take me with you when you go on an adventure, Frodo. I need to protect you from dragons and goblins." Oh, you will, Merry. If only he knew what he would do for his cousin, what they would do for each other, for the shire...
Author's reply
I love the bond between Frodo and his cousins in LOTR, especially Merry. It’s fun to explore the beginnings of that attachment…
good_one_pip
· 30 May 2005
· Chapter 13: Childhood's End
Oh, that's so heart-breaking! Frodo has made peace with everyone. Couldn't you have made a happy ending between him and his lover as well? Frodo has been through enough heartache. But then, Frodo never did start a family of his own. He always was a bachelor, just like his uncle. I'm interested to see how you pull this all together.
Author's reply
Sorry, I know this chapter was painful, but it just didn’t seem destined to end well...
I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed the story so far, and hope the epilogues don’t disappoint. Thank you so much for all your kind reviews!
good_one_pip
· 30 May 2005
· Chapter 12: Day of Reckoning
That's absolutely hilarious! Pipeweed was never meant to grow in Buckland, I guess! :)
Author's reply
In his own way Rory’s as much of a dreamer as Frodo, and their fortunes rise and fall together in this story. Glad you liked it!
good_one_pip
· 30 May 2005
· Chapter 11: The Letter
Oh, dear, sweet Merry! A faunt's innocence is enough to break anyone's heart.
The part about Frodo choosing this path, and how there was no going back, rips at my heart. Even then, his will was set. He could never have known what he was getting himself into, but his motives were true and from the heart. He did not make the decision for any personal gain, only to help his uncle. If only he knew what becoming Bilbo's heir would mean...
"I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this would have happened."
Author's reply
I’m glad you can see the future Ringbearer in this portrait of young Frodo…his selflessness was such an important part of his character, I think. Thanks!
good_one_pip
· 30 May 2005
· Chapter 6: The Buckland Ball
You've certainly done your research! That was fascinating. I wanted Frodo to dance with Hy so badly, but I guess I'll have to wait until a later chapter.
Author's reply
Thank you! The research was fun, as I’ve always loved these dances, especially the Viennese waltz! But I think Frodo was wise not to try it…
Breon Briarwood
· 27 May 2005
· Chapter 13: Childhood's End
*gasp*
How could she?! That little tart deserves to be hurt but good for breaking Frodo's heart! *cuddles Frodo and soothes his poor heart*
Author's reply
Thanks Breon, Frodo needed that! As for Hyacinth, stay tuned for the last two chapters…
Larner
· 27 May 2005
· Chapter 13: Childhood's End
Fickle fool, isn't she? Poor, poor Frodo.
Author's reply
Well, yes, she is. But then, love makes fools of us all at one time or another. But poor Frodo indeed. No matter how many times I read this chapter while editing or proofreading, it always makes me sad.
Larner
· 27 May 2005
· Chapter 12: Day of Reckoning
I agree--some Power apparently has it in for Rory's tobacco crop. Hilarious!
And love the making up between Frodo and Merry.
Author's reply
Well, “’Twasn’t natural,” after all. Thanks Larner, glad you enjoyed it!
Andrea
· 27 May 2005
· Chapter 13: Childhood's End
Oh my god! I'm overwhelmed with emotions!
First of all, I always thought, that old Rory really loves Frodo, for they have a lot in common. He should not be afraid to show his emotions.
And Frodo mastered all his fears to pick the forget-me-nots for his beloved - only to find out that she was with Coronel!
Hyacinth was not very comfortable with the situation. She found the flowers scattered on the ground. But did she see Frodo? Did she remember their first kiss? She hasn't forgotten, has she? It's just impossible!
Author's reply
Rory is the type who has no problem expressing anger, but is ill equipped to show affection, especially for someone with whom he has always been at odds. This story is mostly about Frodo growing up, and he is already more emotionally mature than his uncle…for not only does he recognize what Rory is unable to say, but he is able to say it himself.
And Frodo mastered all his fears to pick the forget-me-nots for his beloved - only to find out that she was with Coronel! I know, this was sad…but the important thing is that he did master his fears. This scene is the final resolution of Frodo’s battle with the River as described in my first story, “The Terror of Buckland.”
Did Hyacinth see Frodo? No…only the flowers. But that was enough to tell her that someone had been there, and it wasn’t difficult for her to guess who it was. As for the kiss, well, I’m afraid that it just didn’t mean the same thing to her that it did to Frodo.
Thank you for all your perceptive observations!
Ariel
· 22 May 2005
· Chapter 12: Day of Reckoning
Use of the paper wasp as a form of natural pest control is accurate too…and they really do chew up the worms and feed them to their young! Who’d a thought…?
Actually, the use of biological controls is well documented as a practice and goes back into prehistory. Those old farmers knew their stuff!
Today we employ biological controls on all sorts of non-native invasive pests. If you had to deal with the gypsy moth in the 80's you will notice that you don't (so much) any more. That is a biological control success story. The moths were an asian import so we had to import the predators for it - in this case a fungus and a bacterium - both from its native range. We do this all the time in forestry. Right now, the pest we are trying to control is the hemlock wooly adelgid - though the little bugs we are trying to breed to eat them are proving a challenge. They really are so selective they will ONLY eat hemlock wooly adelgid and so we have to raise a lot of the pest to raise the bugs! LOL!
Thanks for all your hard work and attention to detail on this story - it shows and it is appreciated!
Author's reply
Those old farmers knew their stuff!
Yes, they did! Things really went downhill after the Industrial Revolution, IMO...
and so we have to raise a lot of the pest to raise the bugs! LOL!
LOL is right!! There's a certain bizarre logic at work there...
Andrea
· 21 May 2005
· Chapter 12: Day of Reckoning
Merry looked at him, wide-eyed. "Did you adopt me?" he asked.
Frodo smiled. "Yes, I suppose you could say that."
I just loved this conversation! It's really a shame that Frodo never had children. He would have been a wonderful father.
Don't worry about the New World crop. I think the pumpkins fit in perfectly well along with the potatoes and the pipeweed.
Though, pipeweed at Brandy Hall, "’Twasn’t natural!" ;-)
Author's reply
Thanks Andrea…that was one of those conversations that just sort of wrote itself (I wish it would happen more often!). And yes, wouldn’t he have been a great father? Wise, kind, gentle…sigh.
As for the pipeweed, guess that was just one anachronism too many for the “powers that be”… Poor Rory just didn’t heed the signs! (See my reply to Ariel below for more on this…)
Larner
· 20 May 2005
· Chapter 11: The Letter
Bless dear Merry. Love the letter, the choice, the writing. Very well presented and thoughtful.
Author's reply
Thank you, Larner! I’m glad you appreciated the thought behind it, as you’re such a thoughtful writer yourself.
Ariel
· 20 May 2005
· Chapter 12: Day of Reckoning
I just KNEW it was going to hit those tobacco plants!
Yes, I know corn and pumpkins are New World crops…but since Tolkien didn’t worry about the presence of tobacco and potatoes in Middle Earth, I’m not going to worry either!
ROTFLMAO! Considering my area of expertise, this little 'problem' with Tolks always made me giggle. I think you are right not to worry about it. Tolks was no ecologist, just an astute observer, and M-e's ecology has all the earmarks of 1930's Britian, where non-native, invasive species were pretty common. Heck, he even wrote a locomotive into his fic if you recall. If Tolks wasn't getting his panties in a bunch about the ecology, I don't see why others should get terribly bent out of shape when people write fireflies into a fic.
Author's reply
he even wrote a locomotive into his fic if you recall Yes, LOL! That’s about an invasive a species as you can get! ;)
However, you’ll be glad to know that the tobacco diseases and pests are carefully researched (hey, even anachronisms deserve to be accurately presented!). I fell in love with all the odd and yet, somehow, very hobbity names (spotted wilt, black shank) and wanted to use as many as possible. The number of afflictions—10—was quite deliberate: the same as the number of plagues to strike Egypt in the Bible!
Use of the paper wasp as a form of natural pest control is accurate too…and they really do chew up the worms and feed them to their young! Who’d a thought…?
Thanks Ariel!
Andrea
· 15 May 2005
· Chapter 11: The Letter
Bilbo's letter took me completely by surprise! Like Frodo I had absolutely forgotten about the first letter.
You're right! This is a "real" decision and it was not easy for Frodo. Finally the love for his uncle and the fear for his wellbeing has succeeded. I would never have expected any other decision from Frodo.
As you remarked, in all stories about Bilbo making Frodo his heir, I've read so far, he was always unhappy at Brandy Hall. And so the decision was easy.
But your new approach seems much more real to me.
I hope, Merry will be found soon!
Author's reply
Thanks Andrea, I’m glad you thought Frodo’s decision was true to his character.
I felt that within the context of this story, the only thing that would persuade him to go was believing that Bilbo was in trouble and needed him (since that’s the kind of noble, selfless hobbit he is, even at this young age).