Reviews (71)

Celeste Lucretia Black · 20 May 2021 · Chapter 22: The Trouble With Responsibility

Oh dear

Celeste Lucretia Black · 17 May 2021 · Chapter 22: The Trouble With Responsibility

This has by far been by favourite one shot

Celeste Lucretia Black · 9 May 2021 · Chapter 3: Cruel Caradhras

Yay finally a story about Merry! Poor Merry is underappreciated.

Larner · 24 November 2006 · Chapter 25: Safe And Sound

Each of those involved survived, but none came away unchanged from what they'd been when they joined the Fellowship or actively entered this final struggle; nor were their lands untouched. But peace comes with love, and joy is oft found in the morning, tis said. A lovely piece, Anso.

EstellaB · 10 May 2006 · Chapter 1: Spring Fever

And...? And what? I am very confused...

Dreamflower · 31 March 2006 · Chapter 28: Frodo

Poor Merry! His heartbreak when Frodo left must have been so difficult--knowing that he had to let his beloved brother-cousin go, for his own good, and yet still missing him so much.

Larner · 13 March 2006 · Chapter 27: Parsley Knowledge

A lovely use of your new idiom!

harrowcat · 13 March 2006 · Chapter 27: Parsley Knowledge

Oh *g*

Estë Tangletoes · 26 February 2006 · Chapter 15: Sleeping (Part Two)

*melts some more* Thank you for putting this loveliness down on 'cyber-paper' and sharing.

Estë Tangletoes · 26 February 2006 · Chapter 14: Sleeping

*melts*

PIppinfan1988 · 18 January 2006 · Chapter 25: Safe And Sound

Wow...this is absolutely beautiful! I especially LOVE the contrast you portray between Gimli and the hobbits, how comforting another is so foreign to him. Yet by the end, Gimli finds himself a bit homesick, too. Wonderful tale! LOL, I was just rummaging around and noticed your Notebook. I was in the mood to read something I had not read before, and so I picked this one--and I'm glad. Take care. :-) Pippinfan

Larner · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 26: Making Merry merry

Strength begets strength; and these two have developed strengths they never dreamed they could possess. And the two of them share the experience of the cold hands and arms from encounters with the Witch King, and so have a rapport that is special there, as well as mutual concern for the others, and particularly for Pippin. Lovely imagery, the two Hobbits sleeping together in the growing daylight, comforting and being comforted.

Dreamflower · 16 January 2006 · Chapter 26: Making Merry merry

Oh Anso, this is absolutely beautiful! I *adore* moments like this, when Frodo takes on his role as Merry's big brother/cousin, and the image of the two of them sleeping against one another in the sunrise was just achingly beautiful! Thank you for this absolutely lovely little fic!

harrowcat · 16 January 2006 · Chapter 26: Making Merry merry

Oh this is so sad but lovely and snuggly too!

SlightlyTookish · 3 January 2006 · Chapter 25: Safe And Sound

Lots of lovely Merry-comfort here, Anso! I love how Gimli is hesitant to pick up Merry - but of course he'll get over that reluctance when it comes time for him to rescue Pippin! I like how Gimli, Legolas and Eowyn all responded to Merry's distress and did all that they could to make him comfortable. I love it when we get to see the hobbits through another race's eyes and you do a great job of that here :)

harrowcat · 2 January 2006 · Chapter 25: Safe And Sound

Lovely Anso, half asleep or not. I'm glad that Merry doesn't remember it though.

shirebound · 1 January 2006 · Chapter 25: Safe And Sound

Sorry to quote such a long passage back at you, but it says so much not just about Gimli, but about what he's observed and learned about hobbits: as he came to learn more about the nature of hobbits he understood that the affection between family and friends was something the hobbits wore on their sleeves and to hold another hobbits hand or hug was as natural to them as not doing so was to the Dwarf. Now Merry was alone without his cousins or Sam or even Gandalf to comfort him. Gimli thought back to what the others had done for the hobbit in need of comfort and blushed at the thought of him having to do the same. He was alien to gather someone in his arms and rock them and stroke their hair and face until they calmed or sing soft songs into a small pointed ear until the sobs subsided. He didn't have children and his Dwarven nature was not bound to that kind of behaviour. He knew he must appear hard as the stone he so cherished to the soft-hearted hobbits, but he also knew that they had found trust and the occasional comfort in him. He could remember several occasions where a small body - usually Pippin followed by Merry - would snuggle up beside him for warmth and coax a story or even a song out of him, but when it came to distress the hobbits had always taken care of their own. What a tender, lovely scene. All acknowledge Merry's courage, and yet know that he and his race have very little experience with war... and with being alone amongst strangers.

Dreamflower · 1 January 2006 · Chapter 25: Safe And Sound

Oh, Anso, this is so sweet and poignant! I love Gimli's distress--he really doesn't know how to comfort Merry, and yet he wants to so badly. I love the way Legolas doesn't remonstrate, but just takes Merry up and tries to soothe him, and then surrenders his burden to Eowyn. How hard for Merry, having been forcibly seperated from Pippin, and from Frodo and Sam as well. He's endured the storming of Isengard, and see Pippin in the throes of the palantir, and now he must be eaten up with worry and exhaustion. What a lovely picture of the comforts his friends offer, and a good look at why Eowyn may have felt moved to include Merry when she rode off among the Rohirrim. Wonderful job!

harrowcat · 7 December 2005 · Chapter 24: To My Heart's Content

Lovely description Anso. I especially liked the way that Estella uses the temerature of Merry's arm as a kind of barometer! BTW I couldn't access this from my story alert e.mail!

Dreamflower · 23 October 2005 · Chapter 24: To My Heart's Content

Ah, Anso, that's so romantic and sweet! I do so love your Merry/Estella. *sigh*

harrowcat · 23 October 2005 · Chapter 24: To My Heart's Content

Aw this is so lovely. Would that we could have a loved one to feel thant way about

Grey Wonderer · 17 October 2005 · Chapter 23: Far Away But Close At Heat

Lovely! Merry's worries and concerns were all so very well written. I enjoyed this very much and I especially liked the ending where Merry decides to be brave and have hope. So like Merry!

Larner · 16 October 2005 · Chapter 23: Far Away But Close At Heat

Ah--lovely imagery here, lovely thoughts on the relationships that count and on the needs of the others as all are now taking their own paths to their destinies.

PIppinfan1988 · 16 October 2005 · Chapter 23: Far Away But Close At Heat

What a lovely tale of Merry's thoughts while riding with Dernhelm. I am so glad that Derhelm was able to encourage Merry and dispell his gloomy thoughts. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful tale. :-) Pippinfan

Dreamflower · 3 October 2005 · Chapter 22: The Trouble With Responsibility

Ah, Merry h/c as only you can do it, Anso! It sounds like the poor lad was working up a stomach ulcer. Hope Strider caught it in time. Merry's just a classic Type A personality, isn't he? He's not only a workaholic, but everything that goes wrong he takes as his responsibility. Hopefully Frodo and Pip have set him straight now!