What a fascinating tale!
It made me think of Aragorn as virgin (don't remember a lot about unicorns, but I seem to remember that they favored virginal maidens) and other interesting topics. I love stories of Aragorn's adventures before the Fellowship.
A good tale to hearten the Fellowship in this dark place!
Author's reply
Thank you. I've always wanted unicorns in Middle-earth, so this Challenge gave me that chance!
You are right about the virginal maiden part, and as far as I am concerned you are right about Aragorn as well. I am quite sure that once he had met Arwen, he would have kept himself for her--after all, not to do so would have been fatal to his hopes, for as we have been told by JRRT, for Elves, physical intimacy=marriage, and he most certainly could not have come to her already married in the Elven sense!
And that was what I thought--they needed to remember the Light, even though at that point it was being denied them.
Larner
· 7 December 2006
· Chapter 29: Enchantment
How wonderful to find that this legend also has a place in Middle Earth. Very lovely tale. Thank you.
Author's reply
I am glad you like the idea. It always seemed unicorns *ought* to be in Middle-earth, so I love the idea that Marigold's prompt gave me to do that.
demeter d
· 7 December 2006
· Chapter 29: Enchantment
What a luminous little story! I felt as if I was right there with them. Such a nice touch, that Aragorn partakes of the grace of the creatures of the Light.
Lovely.
Author's reply
*blushes*
Thank you! That's lovely. I just thought it seemed appropriate for her to greet him--he is himself a creature of Light, so to speak, though he wouldn't think that of himself.
Claudia
· 2 December 2006
· Chapter 19: Yule Among the Beornings
What a cool idea -- I enjoyed this very much and would actually love to read more in this universe if you've written more or will write more!
Author's reply
Well, all my stories are here on SoA. I have quite a few featuring Bilbo, but only one other set *during* The Hobbit--"A Merry Old Inn".
But I am hoping to do a few more. There are, sadly, not quite so many gaps to fill in The Hobbit as there were in LotR!
shirebound
· 1 December 2006
· Chapter 19: Yule Among the Beornings
The look of sheer delight on the hobbit’s face was reward enough, and Beorn found himself regretting that he had not invited his guest into his kitchen sooner, if he could be rewarded with such a smile.
How lovely. What an unexpectedly nice Yule for Bilbo, and everyone else there.
Author's reply
I've always been curious about that little paragraph in which we learn where Bilbo spent his Yule, and what it says about Beorn's hospitality. It did turn out to be a very nice Yule after all!
Bodkin
· 8 November 2006
· Chapter 28: A Shortcut to Disaster
Poor Frodo - but I can see why he refuses to bow before the challenges. And why he would rather go to Bilbo's for the celebration than stay behind mucking out the stables. Shame it left him so scared of dogs, though.
Farmer Maggot is actually rather a decent sort - even if Frodo's opinion of him is rather skewed!
Author's reply
Yes, Frodo has an extra dose of stubbornness--he's a Baggins and a Brandybuck, with a large portion of Took. It's that kind of determination that got him to the Mountain. But at this age, it also translates into a kind of stiff-necked pride that can--and does--land him in a pickle!
Of course he'd be distressed at the thought of missing out on a visit to Bilbo! As you saw, he'd rather have a beating!
Yes--the old Farmer *was* a decent sort. I had to try and reconcile the kind Farmer Maggot who protected Frodo's party, fed them, and saw them safe to the Ferry, with the stern and vengeful Farmer Maggot who set large vicious dogs on a young lad, and beat him to boot! This was my attempt to figure him out.
harrowcat
· 7 November 2006
· Chapter 28: A Shortcut to Disaster
What a clever explanation of that short comment from Frodo. Great stuff Dreamflower. And to take a thrashing rather than miss a trip to Bilbo is more than a fair exchange. I love it that Farmer Cotton is thoughtful enough to follow through and let people know that Frodo has already been punished.
Author's reply
I'm glad you liked it. I just went in and fixed a tiny little canon error--it should have said "thirty years" instead of "twenty". I can't believe I messed that up!
But yes--Frodo would much rather have had a thrashing and get it over with, rather than miss the visit to Bilbo.
And Farmer Cotton is living up to his end of things--it would have hardly been fair for the lad to have been punished twice. And Frodo's willingness to face up to him impressed him favorably.
SurgicalSteel
· 6 November 2006
· Chapter 28: A Shortcut to Disaster
That was too cute!
Author's reply
Thanks! 8-)
Andrea
· 6 November 2006
· Chapter 28: A Shortcut to Disaster
The ferry hobbit gave him a nod. “Lads’ll be lads,” he said laconically, “but mushrooms is another thing.”
That was brilliant, Dreamflower!
And now I know why Tom Bombadil was so fond of Farmer Maggot. He's really a remarkable hobbit.
And it's so much like Frodo to put up with a trashing instead of missing Bilbo's birthday.
Thank you!
Author's reply
*grin* I'm so glad you liked that line! It was my favorite line in the story!
I think that Maggot must have been a rather remarkable Hobbit--and he clearly was a kindly old soul at heart. But his mushrooms! That was a bit to much for him to take! *tsk*tsk*
I have so often heard kids--usually boys--say they'd rather have a spanking for something, and get it over with! And I *know* Frodo would have felt that way if it had meant missing out on seeing Bilbo!
Queen Galadriel
· 6 November 2006
· Chapter 28: A Shortcut to Disaster
This has to be the best telling of this I've ever read. It left me rather breathless! You've done Frodo's POV perfectly. Of course, it's all fun and allabout being the most daring and eating those *delicious* mushrooms, till he gets caught. Then it's not fun any more. Poor Frodo. Yeah, I'd be afraid of large dogs too, if they'd treed me like a hunted animal. And I love how you really tied the ending to that passage in LOTR.
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Why, thank you, dear! *blushes*
It left me a bit breathless trying to imagine it--poor little Frodo running like that, and then stuck up in the tree!
It had always seemed a bit odd to me, that Pippin, who had lived clean off in Tookland, had a better grasp of the geography than Frodo,who'd lived in Buckland for 21 years--but if he'd spent another 20 years trying to *forget* the experience, then that might explain it!
Queen Galadriel
· 6 November 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
Awwww! Poor Pippin! LOL! This was cute. I just knew that mask was going to scare him. I remember one year when my grandmother managed to acquire a hideous "old hag" mask. On Halloween she wrapped a sheet all around herself and put the mask on. My little brother, then five or six, ran screaming and was found in the back room, sobbing into a pillow. Poor thing. He got over it when he found he could scare *others* with the mask and sheet. :)
Good idea to paint Pip's face instead of making him wear the mask. More sensible, too, as you don't have to hold onto paint and it won't get lost. :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Poor little kid! But yeah, little kids can be scared so easily by things like that! LOL!
You're right--it was more sensible, wasn't it?
Larner
· 6 November 2006
· Chapter 28: A Shortcut to Disaster
Oh, what a wonderful look at that important event, and from our poor Frodo's pov. Bless the good farmer!
Author's reply
Yes, it's one I've wanted to tell for a while, and Marigold's prompts gave me just the right combination of circumstances to do so.
Yes, Farmer Maggot's a good sort, over all, bless him! The hardest part was coming up with why such an obviously kindly soul would have beaten poor little Frodo, mushrooms or no. Still, it was canon, so I had to work with it.
Baggins Babe
· 31 October 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
I reviewed this the other day, then my computer burped on me and I lost the lot!
This was adorable - little Pip is so cute, with his threats to eat the Dwarves.
Pity the wonderful mask frightened him so but clever Frodo to come up with an alternative solution. One day this little sweetie will be the wielder of Troll's Bane and Guard of the Citadel!
Author's reply
'S okay! I was out of town, and though I could access a computer at the motel, it wasn't very conducive to replying.
I'm so glad you enjoyed cute little Pip! And Frodo is nothing if not clever! But you are right--he's going to grow up into a very brave hobbit!
Elemmírë
· 30 October 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
This is just so delightfully sweet and cute, Dreamflower!
He was delighted. “Ooh! Shiny!” He touched the “jewels” on the weskit. Then he hopped up and down and looked behind him at his marvelous appendage. “I have a ta-yuh! Look at my ta-yuh, Mer!” He giggled as only a three year old could.
“Look, Fro!” he crowed, “I’s Smaug! I’s a dwagon!”
Your wonderful writing just makes me want to cuddle wee Pippin right up! LOL!
Leave it to Frodo to save the day! It's so nice to see him being able to enjoy the part of childhood he missed out through his young cousins. Due to his grief over his parents, I don't think Frodo would have enjoyed the Fall Festival as much until Merry came along.
I wonder what Bilbo would think of wee Pippin's costume?
Isn't it amazing how little ones can be so enthusiastic about a craft project such as yours and then get all scared when it's done?
~Elemmírë~
Author's reply
*grin* wee!Pippin is just very cuddle-able, isn't he?
I think you are probably right. But he would have enjoyed helping Merry and Pippin with it very much.
He'd probably be insufferably smug about it--his Adventure being the inspiration and all!
It was kind of funny! As long as it was on the table, he was *fine* with it, but as soon as it was held up to a face, he got so upset!
Bodkin
· 30 October 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
The invention of face-painting!
I'm not surprised Pippin doesn't like the mask - there is something about masks that is quite scary.
Author's reply
Yep. Necessity being the mother and all that...
Masks *can* be very scary! I'd not thought much on it though, until that cute little fellow gave me the bunny...
Larner
· 29 October 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
Yes--very, very appropriate! Lovely!
So glad this little dragon won the prize as well.
Author's reply
Thanks!
I couldn't let Frodo break his winning streak, now could I? LOL! And let's face it--who would deny that adorable little dragon?
Andrea
· 28 October 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
“I’s Smaug! I eat the Dwarveses all up! I eat up all the ponies! Roarrrrrr!”
"Dwarveses"? LOL!!! English is funny :)
Little Pippin being scared of a mask, and Frodo coming up with an even better and completely new solution! That's wonderful!
Sometimes real life is the best inspiration!
Thank you for this story, Dreamflower!
Author's reply
*giggle* Well, *baby-talk* is funny, anyway, LOL! I do try not to go overboard with baby-talk--too much of it in a fic annoys me, but since he is such a very young faunt in this, I thought it was excusable.
Sometimes it is! I felt so sorry for the poor little kid--he was sooo cute!
Kitty
· 28 October 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
Oh, poor little Pip! It certainly is a difference if he is playing a dragon or if he has to *face* one. Apparently the mask was a bit *too* well done. I am glad Frodo thought of a way to save the day. And not doubt Pip was terribly proud to have won.
The adult Pippin who had faced a troll would be rather embarassed to remember he was frightened so much by a mask, I think.
Author's reply
You hit the nail on the head! LOL!
Yes, Frodo was very talented that way--but he also came up with the solution, thank goodness! And winning made all the difference to little Pip!
*grin* I actually considered a troll rather than a dragon, but I thought it would be a bit OTT. Besides, it was easier to figure out a dragon costume!
Author Reply: Oh, and now you've gone and given me another bunny!
Kitty
· 28 October 2006
· Chapter 26: The Byrding's Decision
Now I am rather confused - I started reviewing based on my e-mails and then wondered because I thought I had reviewed the next stories already. Looking at the review page proved me right, and I seem to remember getting your answers, but they have vanished. It seems my laptop ate them. Why are computers so unpredictable?? *grumble*
Well, it was inevitable this accident had to happen, I suppose. Perry and Fam grew up hearing the stories about their father's great deeds and would of course act them out frequently. And Troll's Bane is part of the stories. And besides, which boy could resist the temptation to hold the famous sword?
Fam had some truly wonderful gifts for his extended family. It's very useful to have dwarves and elves and sort of honorary uncles among the men in the South handy to help gather all that is necessary, isn't it?
Somehow I wasn't so much worried if *Sam* would accept Fam as son-in-law, but kept giggling at the thought what the *Gaffer* would've said about his granddaughter marrying the heir to the Thain *grin* I fear I'm a hopeless case ...
And maybe there is another romance between the children of the Travellers? I'd like to learn a bit more about Perry and Primrose ;)
Fam must have been glad his father talked to Sam; I think it was difficult enough for him to ask Goldilocks, but to have to tell Sam would have been worse for him, I suppose. (Though I wonder if Sam argued about it being 'proper' ;-)) It's good to know Pippin agreed to the match and backed his son up. For Fam it was certainly the best day of his life.
Author's reply
Computers are infected with gremlins, that's why!
You are absolutely right. It *was* inevitable that sooner or later one or the other of them would want to play with that famous sword.
Yes, Fam has some very helpful family connections not necessarily available to the average hobbit, LOL!
Oh goodness! *boggles at the thought of what the Gaffer would say* As to Perry and Primrose, I am quite sure that sooner or later we will learn more about them, if any bunnies hop their way.
It was hard for him--I am sure he was greatly relieved at Pippin's offer. While I don't think anyone else *really* thought Sam would object too much, well, Fam was nervous enough, and didn't need that extra pressure.
harrowcat
· 28 October 2006
· Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
It can be so much fun when RL inspires stories. Pippin as a fiercesome Smaug in miniature is great. I love it that even at that age he is being corrupted, oops I mean entertained, by Bilbo's stories. Sensible of Pal to have checked on the removability of the paint! And lard as the original cold cream! *g*
Author's reply
Yes, I think he'd probably been listening to Bilbo's stories from Merry's or Frodo's lap from the time he was old enough to sit there, LOL!
Years ago, I recall, we used Crisco to remove face paint, so I figured lard would work as well.
Kitty
· 28 October 2006
· Chapter 24: Birthday Morning
It must have been very difficult for poor Frodo that Bilbo went away, leaving him back, particularly after he had already lost his parents, and even if he came of age this day, he still was very young. I think you've caught his feelings quite well here. Although I understand *why* Bilbo had to go away, I'm still not happy with him for that. Frodo loved him so much, and going to inherit Bag End is no true consolation. And all the trouble and commotion Bilbo's vanishing caused didn't make it better at all.
Frodo's gift to Bilbo was a wonderful idea, even more so as he didn't know what was to come when he ordered it. In the end it proved very fitting, didn't it?
Author's reply
You are right about how hard it was on Frodo. But I think by the time it came to the point of his leaving, Bilbo was no longer quite thinking straight. The gradually awakening Ring had begun to affect him, and he did not understand what was wrong with him. All he could think of was a need to go away. And I think, he honestly thought Frodo was mature enough to handle it. (Which he did turn out to be--but it still hurt him.) And you are right about the little trick of his vanishing the way he did, as well.
It did, didn't it? *grin*
Bodkin
· 14 October 2006
· Chapter 26: The Byrding's Decision
Don't they make a lovely couple! (And isn't Pearl the perfect chaperone!)
Author's reply
I think they make a lovely couple, yes, indeed!
Pearl's had a lot of experience at it; I know my Pearl at least, has chaperoned Sam and Rose, Merry and Estella and Pippin and Diamond in their turn. And, I am sure, a good many others as well!
Larner
· 9 October 2006
· Chapter 26: The Byrding's Decision
Hooray! It is only right that this should be announced on that special day. And loved the backstory on Trollsbane in the hands of two young Hobbits, each scion to a special father.
And, Sam, I DO love you!
Author's reply
It seemed to me the sort of mischief a couple of lads raised on their father's tales would get up to.
Ah, Sam! I really did not want to give anything away about his reaction until the end, but there would not have been any doubt about his feelings if he knew where their hearts lay. And I'm quite sure, that perceptive as he was, he would know. If he didn't, Rose and Pippin would clue him in. Still, I wanted young Fam to squirm a bit in uncertainty--no need to make things *too* easy for him!
Andrea
· 9 October 2006
· Chapter 26: The Byrding's Decision
Awww! That was beautiful, Dreamflower!
The great friendship between a Took and a Brandybuck, and the love of that Took for a Gamgee lass, expressed in two unique birthday presents!
And then there was this line:
A goodly number of lasses who had come to the party in the hopes of getting the attention of the byrding realized their dreams were dashed, and so turned their attention to the food--and other lads.
LOL! First comes the food, and then the lads! Hobbits! They will never change ;-)
Author's reply
I thought that at coming of age, Fam would want to show his special appreciation to his best friend/cousin. And he definitely wants to impress the lovely Goldilocks!
Well...yeah! *chuckle* Hobbits *do* have their priorities straight! LOL!
Baggins Babe
· 9 October 2006
· Chapter 26: The Byrding's Decision
This was absolutely gorgeous! The closeness between Fari and Perry, the childhood scrape and his love for Goldilocks. I always love a peep at our wonderful hobbits and this was especially lovely.
Very appropriate too as I posted the latest chapter of 'Old Scores' two days ago, in which Fari appears and Goldie is announced! :-)) Hope you've had a chance to see it.
Author's reply
Thanks so much dear! I'm glad you liked it!
My own computer is out, and I'm using the DH's laptop again. I think I lost a number of unopened emails when mine went out, so I may indeed have missed it. I'll have to go and look for it tomorrow.