'You'll have to drop me,' the smaller hobbit panted. 'Save yourself.'
'No!' Merry said. 'Where in the world do you come up with such ideas? That's the stupidest thing I ever heard.' He would not let go. He would hang on until the end of the world, if need be.
"Holding On" - the perfect title for this chapter! It's typical of Merry to focus all his attention on his little cousin, neglecting his own health and only releasing Pippin's hand when he is physically forced to do so!
There are some characteristics, I think, that Merry and Frodo have in common, which is not surprising, because Frodo was Merry's teacher in many respects.
Pippin, however, was very lucky in his childhood to have such a faithful protector. Who knows what would have happend otherwise!
Author's reply
Pippin was one of those children, I suspect, that made adults shake their heads in wonder as they muttered something about guardian angels (or the Shire equivalent).
Thanks!
Larner
· 6 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
Yes, the memories of all those times when his hold was enough to sustain Pippin until they could extricate themselves or outside help came. And once again his grasp was enough to help Pippin hang on.
Wonderful! Self-centered, generous Hobbit that Merry is....
Author's reply
Ah, yes, the baggage we carry from the past is sometimes a good thing to hold on to.
Thanks!
shirebound
· 6 April 2006
· Chapter 4: Holding On
This is so great. I wonder if anyone's ever written this vigil completely from Aragorn's POV? I never thought about the anguish of folks thinking they might lose all three (or even four) of the hobbits at Cormallen.
Wonderful story.
Author's reply
O my, this vigil from Aragorn's POV? (Am hoping that bunny bites shirebound quite hard, sinks its teeth in, and refuses to let go. Shirebound writes hobbits and Aragorn so very nicely, you know.)
Rachel Stonebreaker
· 3 April 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
Excellent touch having the soldier watching Pippin be one of the walking wounded (he limped out of the glade). I'm sure not many folks escaped some sort of damage.
This is grand! You write nice details without getting too wordy.
I wonder what's in store for the four hobbits now? Poor Merry, having to sit and watch. I suppose the good news is that Pip should heal remarkably fast because of the Ent Draughts, so that should be a comfort.
Thank you for emailing me with the notice for update. I don't have a whole lot of time to spend keeping track of various stories so I very much appreciate the notices.
~ Rach
Author's reply
New chapter posted. SoA does have an automatic feature that sends out update noticed, BTW, but I know what you mean. At the moment, with no time for reading, those "Story Alert" messages, for the authors I keep track of, simply pass by in my mailbox.
I imagined, while writing in this period, that the walking wounded would be watching the more seriously wounded, and most of the able-bodied would be out "cleaning up" the remnants of the Dark Lord's forces.
Nice details without too wordy--wonderful to hear! Often worry that I put too many details in and bog down the writing.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Bodkin
· 30 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
Merry doesn't have time to be ill now. Which could cause a problem later. All three hobbits desperately need him now - he is what will hold them. Both his love and his need for them.
'Which one is Frodo?' What a telling comment that is about the state of Frodo and Sam!
Author's reply
Poor Merry. No time to be ill now, or later, really, considering all that must be done.
Thanks!
Larner
· 28 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
Yes, I can see this all too well. Not a deathwatch, though, but a lifewatch as you've entitled it.
And am so glad Pippin has a living hand to cling to right now.
Author's reply
I am glad, too. It seems logical that hobbits would be comforted by the touch of a hand... I remember the studies of comatose patients where they reported having been able to hear and feel a touch, even though they were at the time unable to do anything in response.
Hope things are going better over your way.
Grey Wonderer
· 27 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
Poor, poor Merry. It broke my heart when he had to ask which one was Frodo. Merry has a long effort of being strong ahead of him.
Author's reply
Good thing that hobbits have a core of steel, or is it iron? I forget.
Thanks!
demeter d
· 27 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
Dear Lindelea, I am rather new to this whole fan-fiction thing. So even a "blast from the past' is new and welcome to me. I want you to know i have you on my favorites notification list here at SOA. This is a lovely little story. i always enjoy readin detailed accounts from a single character's point of view. Also, it is nice to see interactions between characters which Tolkien left a bit blank. After the race across Rohan to save Merry and Pip from the Orcs, I always thought that Gimli developed a particular soft spot in
his heart (and head!) for those two. i like to see a bit more interaction between them. Oh, a personal question, if you do not mind. My own little Hobbits are 26, 24, and 21 years of age. I read your comments about feeding and putting to bed little ones. If your children really are small still, I really do admire that you have had the time to do SO MUCH WONDERFUL WRITING!
How old are your "Hobbits"? Best Wishes, Demeter D
Author's reply
How nice it was to receive your encouraging note.
Must admit I avoided writing Gimli until I started to "get to know" him a little in a story called "Where the Merlin Cries". (That one is only half-edited and half-posted here at SoA but I have hopes of starting to post that one after this one is finished.)
I used to write early in the morning before the rest of the family arose, and during naptime when the little ones were little enough for naps. But this year naptime has gone by the wayside, and eldest is using the computer more for "school" study, and middlest is starting to use the computer as a tool for research and writing, so writing time has sort of evaporated. (And early morning has been relegated to RL writing demands, and there are deadlines attached to those...) So until summer arrives I may be limited to editing-and-posting rather than writing new material. Glad it's not a bother.
Goodness, am feeling chatty today! But lunch break is over, time for readaloud!
Pearl Took
· 27 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
"'Please, Strider,' he said. 'I don't think it will be for much longer. I can rest then.'"
Poor dear Merry! And he's so right - Frodo and Sam are together, Pippin needed a hobbit to be with him.
Well done as always :)
Author's reply
Thank you, my friend.
Still have had no time to catch up on your new stories, but summer's coming... (supposed to be 70 tomorrow... won't be too long before we're all panting and fanning ourselves and wishing the cool weather back again)
Andrea
· 27 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
'Frodo and Sam have each other; Pippin has nobody, no proper hobbit hand to be holding his whilst he's walking in the dark.'
Merry is such a brave hobbit!
His arm has gone cold again, but he ignores it and even makes a joke about it. But I can understand him. Frodo and Sam have each other, but what Pippin needs mostly is, of course, his Merry!
Author's reply
Yes, he and Merry need each other, I think. Aragorn summoned Merry from the City to be in time to say "good-bye" but I wonder if he had hopes that Merry could somehow be a factor in a miraculous recovery? Haven't made up my own mind yet, whether Aragorn had any hope at all, or not.
Thanks!
shirebound
· 27 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
On the bed was a small, propped up figure, which Merry could recognize, with a stretch of his imagination, as his cousin Pippin.
Then Merry spoke, and his words brought sudden tears to the Ranger's eyes. 'Which one is Frodo?' he whispered.
'Hold on to him, Sam,' Merry whispered. 'Don't you lose him.'
'Frodo and Sam have each other; Pippin has nobody, no proper hobbit hand to be holding his whilst he's walking in the dark.'
Ohhh, how heartbreaking. Brave, brave Merry.
Author's reply
Love the way you hit the highlights. I need to do that more in my own reviews... when I have time to read again! But summer's a-comin', as we sang in a madrigal a few years back, and soon it'll be time to sit by the pool while young ones are splashing. They want to do "swim team" this year, so there may be a long stretch of days by the pool. I think that practices go on daily, Monday through Friday for most of the summer. Think of the possibilities for reading! And planning! (And dreaming in the sun...)
Thanks!
Anso the Hobbit
· 27 March 2006
· Chapter 3: Entering the Grove
this is so sad and beautiful! Poor, strong and determined Merry. I'm glad Aragorn is literally walking on his heals. Someone needs to catch him when he falls.
Author's reply
Too true! Well, this has to be one of more more Merry-angsty stories...
And in Chapter 4 (just posted) you'll see that there are plenty there to catch him.
Thanks!
Anso the Hobbit
· 27 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
Oh, dear! Poor Merry. He's really had his hopes up and now Gimli had to crush them to the ground for him. More please!
Author's reply
Ah, poor Merry. Have posted more, as you've seen, and will continue to post at least a chapter a week, I hope.
Rachel Stonebreaker
· 22 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
My, what a wonderful start! I've always loved stories that filled in this gap. You've drawn some very good pictures for me of the journey so far to Cormallen. Will there be more?
I especially liked the part where Merry, smart lad that he is, was very careful not to get upset and yell or anything when he finally figured out that his cousins were not "alright". Wouldn't do to be refused seeing them, now would it? I think that was a great part.
I'm sure the part where he actually sees Frodo and Sam and Pippin will be very traumatic and well written!
Do email me when (not if, mind you) you post the next chapter. Thank you.
~ Rach
Author's reply
I don't remember if you included your email address when you reviewed, but if you did, this ought to reach you.
The next chapter is posted, and thanks for hitting the high points, and for the encouragement.
Grey Wonderer
· 21 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
Gimli is not doing too well with his welcome. I agree with Merry. Gimli needs practice if he is to lie convincingly. Poor Merry. Everything will hit him at once.
Author's reply
Poor Merry. Shaking my head right along with you.
harrowcat
· 20 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
I am glad that you are putting this here Lindelea. Or have I said that before? I just love the idea of three hobbits taking the place of one dwarf! And the build up to Merry realisingnot all is well is great.My favourite line ... 'You'll be wanting more practice if you're going to tell a convincing lie.'
Author's reply
Oh, yes, I really think that three hobbits ought to take the place of one dwarf in some story *somewhere* one of these days...
(And that's one of my favourite lines as well.)
naiad
· 20 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
Well done! Excellent build up of tention - surely more chapters will come! Good topic too - I'd never thought of the circumstances as they might have been for Merry. Thanks for sharing~
Author's reply
Thanks for commenting!
Bodkin
· 20 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
That was some job for Gimli. I imagine others might have turned up as well if the news had been the worst - but still. It must have been hard to try to let Merry know how serious matters were without sounding too ominous.
Mind you, I think Merry might have suspected he was working on hope rather than likelihood - his fantasies seem a bit too fantastic to be probable.
I liked seeing him forcing himself to remain controlled and relaxed so that he would be taken to the other hobbits as quickly as possible.
Author's reply
I seem to have the thought that Gimli's task was self-imposed... and poor Merry, hoping for the best. I think he was deliberately trying to look at the bright side, having been expecting the worst, and it not having happened. I tried to imagine his emotion, when the world not only *didn't* end, but the word came that the Ring-bearer had succeeded--and survived!
Pearl Took
· 20 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
This was marvelously done! The conversation, the emotions were perfect :)
MEWD!!
Author's reply
High praise, indeed! Thanks!
Larner
· 20 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
A frustrating greeting as he realizes that all is NOT well, not well at all. And he's certainly right--Gimli is not a convincing liar at all.
Now to find where they lie and their conditions.
Author's reply
Perhaps Legolas would have been a better choice for greeter...
shirebound
· 20 March 2006
· Chapter 2: Arriving in Ithilien
likely Pippin had convinced Frodo to stand in the shadow of one of the barrels on the dockside, only to step out grinning as he walked past...
And how wonderful that would have been!
Author's reply
Yes, it would have been wonderful! I can just picture it.
Grey Wonderer
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 0: Notes
Read the first chapter and then backed up and read the prologue. Now I am all caught up and ready for more. I hope rl is going well and congrats on your GM runner up!
Author's reply
Thanks!
It's always nice to hear a little feedback on a prologue! *g*
Grey Wonderer
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 1: Summons
Hobbits and meal times. I loved this. I don't think I've read it before. I like the focus on Merry.
Author's reply
Ah, yes, hobbits and meal times. Happens a lot around here. The little hobbits must eat six or eight times a day.
(And am adding your new tales onto my "want to read" list. Perhaps I'll print them out and take them to the poolside during summer swim lessons.)
Pearl Took
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 1: Summons
Oh, Lin! This is off to a marvelous beginning :) I'm looking forward to the rest.
Author's reply
Thanks, Pearl!
(And one of these days I'll have reading time, and perhaps even writing time. I hope so, anyhow.)
Anso the Hobbit
· 16 March 2006
· Chapter 1: Summons
Oh, but this is a great reread! I had read it before on ff.net but I am very thrilled to see it here. :D I am also very happy to see a happy version of Merry's travel to see his cousins and friends, although I am sure he is worried enough. Lovely, Lin!
Author's reply
Well, this is the new-and-improved version, taking into account both the original beta comments, and Dreamflower's. (And with lots of Merry h/c, too.) Glad to have you along for the journey.