Reviews (113)

harrowcat · 7 April 2006 · Chapter 10: Picnic in the Party Field

Oh this chapter is just so full of sweetness and fun BB. I loved all of it. A recovered Frodo playing and giving as good as he got. And of course he had to be on the King's team!

shirebound · 7 April 2006 · Chapter 10: Picnic in the Party Field

The Party Field was filling up as energetic and hungry little hobbitlings began to play together while they waited for the food to appear. The mallorn approved of this because her swollen buds rustled and the silver branches swayed. Legolas rested his hand on the trunk, feeling the life force which connected all living things. No wonder this tree was so happy, surrounded by love and laughter and happy hobbits. "A lap full of sleepy little hobbit is the most delightful thing" Well you *know* what passages like that do to me! Such a happy, relaxed afternoon! And now I'm soooo hungry. I want to picnic with hobbits.

Larner · 7 April 2006 · Chapter 10: Picnic in the Party Field

A wonderful picnic; and loved the soccer game here and that Frodo was playing as well.

Tigger · 7 March 2006 · Chapter 9: Shire Songs and Hobbit Ale

Sorry for not reviewing to this before now, but when it was posted originally, I wasn't home and then...Anyway... Wow!! Only hobbits would think of using a parsnip in such a manner...ROTFLOL!!! Sounds like the Keeper of the Royal Armour may need to smith new armour for Aragorn, Faramir and the rest of the lot from Gondor and Ithilien. By the time they get back, they'll be two sizes bigger from all the good cooking of the Shire. :oD Oh and the shushing as going through Bag End to keep from waking the children...I could so see that. *snicker* Then that description of how Aragorn felt. I've had that feeling of my tongue having a fur coat on it before. Mind you, not from drinking too much. Usually from waking up after surgery, but regardless it's not a fun thing. That cure from Gaffer sounds rather powerful. After everything Aragorn's been through, something that would make him feel like his head was about to shatter off of his head *does* have quite a kick to it. ;o) The youngest Gamgee lass is very wise in her advice to the men and hobbits in horrible shape around the kitchen table of Bag End. :oD Looking forward to the next installment of Aragorn and Faramir's Excellent Adventure in The Shire. :oD

Mirkwoodmaiden · 7 March 2006 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

My dear BB! Love the bit about Gandalf watching them and puffing on his pipe!! What a lovely image! that is happened I'm sure!! I also love the pains you have taken to bring the Sandyman family, minus a certain Ted Sandyman. Violet's lovely, and I love seeing her come out of her self! "No more than I hated it for what it was doing to you, m'dear. It tried whispering to me a few times, both before and after I carried it, but I just thought of Bag End and Frodo and flowers and wall-building, and it shut up. Reckon it went into a right sulk." Love the image of the One Ring in a right sulk!! LOL!!! quite an image!! you are right about the Ring and Sam. They just did not get along!! Bless Sam! Wondeful installment! MM

Mirkwoodmaiden · 24 February 2006 · Chapter 7: Filling Up the Corners

My Dear BB! Ah! Poor Legolas! He really does not get on with vegetables very well, does he? First, Potatos and now Cauliflower. Whatever shall he do! Love your description of how Bag End was built as it was! Lobelia digging up the Rose Garden indeed!! I do think Belladonna would have haunted her and rightly so. I just love homey stories about sitting around the kitchen and preparing to cook. They are so comforting!! And you capture that and the nonsense approach that Rosie applies to her kitchen so well. Aragorn reunited with a cuddly toy!! You got to love that! Faramir angling to taste more of Rosie's cooking by offering his services as a taste tester!! So generous of him!! LOL!!!! Aragorn in Harad...in skirts, arse over elbows towards the ship...a wonderful image! "Faramir sighed contentedly. "There is a special kind of peace in the Shire. It seeps into the soul, I feel. We have been here but a short time, yet I feel so rested and content." " my thoughts exactly dear!! Wonderfully written! BB

Mirkwoodmaiden · 24 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Shire Songs and Hobbit Ale

My dear BB! Once again you amaze me with your ability to write about Hobbits and humans having a wonderful time in the Shire! The descriptions of the food "Fluffy mashed potatoes....Mmmmmmm!" made my mouth water and I could just the spread of food at the Ivy Bush before me!!! I loved the drinking songs in the Green Dragon!! Sam being indignant at the use of a perfectly good parnip made me roll up! A wonder depiction of a pub crawl Hobbit-style. If only we could have the Gaffer's hangover recipe, could have saved me from a few tender heads meself! I love how you have Bergil blushing at the racier bit of songs!! LOL!!! Really enjoyed it m'dear! MM

Andrea · 23 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Shire Songs and Hobbit Ale

"See!" said Frodo. "Tol' you it was an.......ana.....tom'cally impossibibble!" LOL! A parsnip, you say? When Faramir falls off his chair while listening to the famous Verse Seventy-One, it must be really... well, interesting ;-) The food served at the "Bush" sounds delicious. I know some people though, who would be much more interested in the recipe for the Gaffer's remedy. I think, Rose might have had a very good reason not to tell Aragorn immediately about the ingredients. And her little namesake is just sweet: Silly," she said. "Too much beer not good." "Great fun though," Aragorn murmured, and everyone agreed. Great fun, indeed! Thank you, that's what I really needed today!

Kitty · 23 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Shire Songs and Hobbit Ale

I think I haven’t reviewed this before. This story is so much fun – I had always wanted Aragorn to visit the Shire, not only to come to the bridge, and to have him meet the parents of Merry and Pippin. So I am always happy to see one of the very few fics who tell this tale. This visit to Hobbiton and Bywater should do a lot to convince the Hobbits there that not all men are bad. They buy what they want instead of ‚gathering’ it, are kind and courteous, and to get drunk together is somehow connecting, I suppose ;-) The image of the King and his Stewards and the Elves and all the others singing obscene songs is hilarious! Now I only wonder if they will remember Verse Seventy-One in the morning at all *eg* Very interesting idea to heal Frodo’s sea-longing and the spider bite through one of the Ent-draughts! I love that! Oh, by the way, maybe this is interesting for you, concerning your note at the beginning of the first chapter: 1380 is the *correct* date. At the moment I’m reading „The Lord of the Rings : A Reader’s Companion“ from Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull. There are not only many explanations (archaic words, connections to other works and so on) but it contains a lot of corrections, made with the help of Christopher Tolkien. There they wrote that in the ‚Tale of years’ it is said in the entry for 1469 that Sam was 1476 ninety-six. That means he is born in 1380, too. In the 2004 edition of LotR his birth in the ‚Tale of years’ is moved from 1383 to 1380.

Dreamflower · 23 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Shire Songs and Hobbit Ale

Oooh! You've outdone yourself with this chapter! Thhis is just marvelous--I love the visit to the market, and the description of the gifts. How wonderful that the hobbit sized bowls and pitchers are "just right" for two little girls! And I did so love your sneaky little references to other things--Snowdrop Goodchild! *grin* And the part about the spider bite, and the lembas connection to the Sea-longing--perfect references! The idea that Merry and Pippin slipped Frodo some Ent-draught was a marvelous one--someday you are going to have to expand on that for us, show us the meeting with Treebeard, and how they were able to manage sneaking the Ent-draught into him. I do so love the song Watkin's Ale! One of my favorite songs--I love the rendition by the Baltimore Consort on the CD of that name. Um, and I want the recipe to the liver and bacon casserole--it sounds yummy!

harrowcat · 22 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Shire Songs and Hobbit Ale

"Silly," she said. "Too much beer not good." "Great fun though," Aragorn murmured, and everyone agreed. For everyone! *g* Readers and partakers alike!!!

shirebound · 22 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Shire Songs and Hobbit Ale

"I have considerable power, you know," said Pippin. "I shall make this food disappear!" "I think we're all going to manage that," laughed Faramir. Rusty Overhill was sitting by the inglenook, chuckling to himself, an incident so rare that the landlord came out to look. "Well I'll be jiggered! You've got that miserable old bugger laughing! D'ye know, we alus said he'd only laugh when the King comes back!" Yay, happiness! Little hobbit lasses in big laps, and wonderful food and drink and song and company... :D

Mirkwoodmaiden · 26 January 2006 · Chapter 6: Gardening, Cookery and Talking With Trees

Hello my dear! Finally I'm back online!! I was wanting to say how wonderful I thought this chapter was. One of my favourite parts was the letter written but Celeborn. I just love his gift to Sam. flowers from Lothlorien especially Elanor! It was a lovely and well written and conceived idea. Also I really like the way you have sketched out ted sandyman's familiy and given them a new life away the old drunk. Overall I thought it was a brilliant story Much love The PEF

Anonymous · 21 January 2006 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

Wooow. I love this story! It's so funny! Please update???

Mirkwoodmaiden · 9 December 2005 · Chapter 5: Hobbiton and Bag End

My dear BB! Another lovely chapter, my dear! All that mention of the very fine fare to be had in the Shire makes my homesick, indeed!! *sigh* " 'Remind me never to volunteer to carry something which Gandalf, assorted Elves and a future king won't touch with a ten foot pole!'" LOL!! I suppose that is very wise advice to self that Frodo should heed! With the children wanting to stay up you capture the feeling and memories of cozy evenings surrounded by friends, hearth and home so very well my dear! Lovely. Loved the descriptions of the Shirefolk meeting the Lords of Gondor and Eldar and how you draw the distinct difference between them and Sharkey's ruffians! Well done My dear! MM

Andrea · 7 December 2005 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

So, finally Verse Seventy-One will be revealed? Just can't wait for it ;-) With four brothers Rosie will certainly know all verses, and lots of other drinking songs, too, I'm sure! "Sam Gamgee don't listen to jumped-up bits of jewellery, no matter who speaks through 'em. I knew that whatever it said it didn't mean, so I ignored it." That's so absolutely Sam! And I think, you're right. That's exactly, what happened. Three cheers to good old Sam and his plain hobbit sense!

Larner · 6 December 2005 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

All seventy-nine verses she knows? Most well-educated, Rose is. And love the references to Unfinished Tales.

Dreamflower · 4 December 2005 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

How fun! I love seeing Aragorn and the others playing "horsie" with the little hobbits! The discussion in the garden was lovely as well--I am sure Boromir would have been very touched to have seen the beautiful garden made for him. The cake sounded delicious! Nevermind waiting for Rose to write a cookbook--how about a recipe for that cake? LOL! *sigh* I *so* love your Shire!!

Tigger · 4 December 2005 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

Uh oh...Now *this* will a night to remember!! *snicker* Can't wait to read about the invasion of The Green Dragon and, hopefully, all the verses to this lauded song. :oD Oh and the image of Aragorn, Faramir and the Stewards being horsey-ies for Sam and Rose's children...Baggins Babe, you needed to post a fluffy warning for the start of this chapter. Too, too sweet and adorable!! Oh and I loved this... *********** I want this place to remain a haven, so I know life here goes on in peace. But don't worry, for there will be many visits between our families. We are linked in love." ************ Perfect, perfect, perfect and so true!! They were all linked in love. I really can't wait for the next chapter!! Bring on the drunken singing!!! :oD

harrowcat · 4 December 2005 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

Loved it BB. "Sam Gamgee don't listen to jumped-up bits of jewellery, no matter who speaks through 'em. I knew that whatever it said it didn't mean, so I ignored it." I was rolling around just like Frodo reading this!

shirebound · 4 December 2005 · Chapter 8: First Impressions

Your updates make me so happy, BB! This is the happiness, peace, and love I always want to see for our beloved characters. Ohhh, the horseys!! And what wonderful memorial gardens. I can just see it all so clearly. (And you know I squeal with joy anytime Rufus wanders into a chapter.) Oh my, the thought of finding Isildur's body and giving it a proper burial -- what a fascinating idea! And how wonderful that there's such lively and appreciated trade between the Shire and Gondor. This is truly the Fourth Age as I imagine it should have been.

Mirkwoodmaiden · 1 December 2005 · Chapter 3: Brandy Hall

My dear BB! Once again your writing is second to none in its ability to create and convey a sense of homeliness and welcome. By your pen the Shire in rendered to be the place where you would most want to sit down with a favoured pint next to a warm fire, preferably in a pub very close to home. Ah Hobbits, indeed. What a wonderful people, made even more wonderful by your warmth and love in writing them. You've alway excelled at writing hobbits, but now you developed a lovely felicity of language when writing Men and Elves, as well. I shall begin Chapter 4 straight away! MM

Tigger · 27 November 2005 · Chapter 7: Filling Up the Corners

I am so very sorry I did not review this when it first came up two weeks ago BB. I meant to once things around here had settled down, but didn't get around to it. My Dad was sick and in the hospital and then I got nailed w/Mom's tummy flu, so that's why there was no review of this chapter. Thankfully though, he's out and doing awesome and I'm feeling a bit better. Okay...Now that I've got done!! Loved, loved the scene in the kitchen. Especially Legolas' battle w/the cauliflower. Not my favourite veggie either. :oD The scene in the drawing/living room...I could see it so vividly. Especially Sam trying to ask Aragorn how he got his..."chest"...to pull off Thorongil's female disguise. :oD I love this lovely fluffy universe where there's a happy and healed Frodo in Middle Earth. Looking forward to more!! :o)

Mirkwoodmaiden · 19 November 2005 · Chapter 2: Many Meetings

Hello my dear BB! Just finished the chapter and I loved it! hobbits are so much fun, especially the way you write them!! Interesting touch that you bring in Aragorn's northern cousins, it has caused another plot bunny to hop around in my head! Hmmmm! MM

Dreamflower · 16 November 2005 · Chapter 7: Filling Up the Corners

I was eating supper out last night, as I had a meeting to go to, so I printed this chapter out to read while I ate. *Happy sigh* You have just about the nicest AU I've ever seen. It is always like a little mini-vacation in the Shire myself to read an update of a "Reunion-verse" fic. There was so much to love about this one, from the scenes of the King and Elves preparing veggies (I loved Legolas' struggle with the cauliflower, LOL!) to the description of the meal itself (which made me quite wistful, as I ate my burger and fries--wish *I* could eat Rosie's cooking) was wonderful! And the anecdotes afterward were a hoot! "I seem to remember that those words began to strike terror in all of us, even in Rivendell. 'Trust us, it will be fun!' was usually the signal for Lord Elrond to clutch his head and Gandalf to thunder 'Peregrin Took!' in tones which brooked no argument." Ah, yes, famous last words, kind of like "what could go wrong?" and "it couldn't be worse than this" and "wait for me, I won't be long". *grin* But the ending was especially beautful! Everyone agreed. The Elves lay on their backs, gazing at the stars. Suddenly, from the orchard, came a liquid outpouring of such exquisite beauty and poignancy that all stilled to listen. Somewhere in the branches, an unremarkable-looking brown bird was opening her throat and pouring forth her unique contribution to the song of Iluvatar. It formed a trilling cascade of notes which seemed to fill the Shire and rise to dance among the stars, until Earindil himself must surely hear it. "Tinuviel," Aragorn murmured. "Her song is glorious." "She sings most evenings in the spring and summer. I'm glad she's back again," said Frodo softly. A white shape sailed noiselessly past, as a barn owl set off to hunt. The Shire's small rodents should beware, particularly as another hunter was creeping along the garden path. Rufus was no longer a domestic pet; he was a mighty lion, stalking his prey through a jungle of grasses. Pipes smoked, the Men, hobbits and Gimli returned indoors, leaving the Shire to the Elves, the hunters and the stars. *sigh*