Cairistiona
· 11 December 2012
· Chapter 35: The Fellow in the Corner
Excellent! I very much enjoyed seeing this scene through Strider's eyes, and hearing his thoughts on Bilbo as he watched Frodo. This is very much how I imagine Strider at this point in the book. Really well done!
Author's reply
Hey! I just now found this review!
Thanks so much--we are deprived of his POV because it would have been major spoilers if we'd known what he was thinking; but it's really fun to imagine just what those thoughts would have been!
Antane
· 1 August 2012
· Chapter 100: Standing Stones
I love the sweetness of this story and how you used a few words to make a whole story. Le hannon!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Virtuella
· 30 July 2012
· Chapter 100: Standing Stones
Ah, here are two Hobbits who happened to be in the right place at the right time! What a great idea to have a Shire Stonehenge - I bet it's much nicer than the real one, which just sits on a field between two main roads. And yeah, I'm sure Hobbit stomachs are excellent at timekeeping!
Author's reply
Well, this one is far from the beaten track, clearly, LOL!
With meals essentially every couple of hours, I think most hobbit stomachs would keep good time-- but tweens, who are growing like crazy, their stomachs would work even better!
eiluj
· 30 July 2012
· Chapter 100: Standing Stones
This was a very satisfying Frodo-and-Bilbo tale, with Eärendil as the perfect finale. (And I say that despite my initial Oh, good grief, she's transplanted Stonehenge to the Shire annoyance.)
I think you have already alluded to Ferumbold Took writing about the Bullroarer (or perhaps it was a Brandybuck ... or perhaps it was some other hobbit writing about something else ... or someone else's story ... or I am just confused). Much as I hate to suggest any subject other than the usual hobbits, I wonder if perhaps your subconscious is hinting you should write about the Bullroarer too!
I wonder what the elves know of these Stones?
Author's reply
LOL! I wouldn't have done so if JRRT had not hinted that something very like Stonehenge already existed in Middle-earth, with the use of the phrase in Bilbo's song, and the reference to standing stones near the Barrow-downs. So he kind of led the way on that one.
*nods* My first reference to Ferumbold's book was in "Consequences of a Fall"; and I may have alluded to it elsewhere as well. You have a sharp memory! And I have done a couple of things about the Bullroarer: a fluffy frame story by that name in my "Twice Twenty" anthology, and a drabble that I did for one of the B2mem challenges a couple of years ago.
But yeah, Bandobras is in the bunny queue.
Perhaps Bilbo asks them when he is in Rivendell...
Siiw
· 30 July 2012
· Chapter 100: Standing Stones
Cheers for a hundred chapters!
You sent my imagination spinning with this one. If the hole was consciously placed so the light from Earendil's star would shine through it, the stones must at least be younger than the War of Wrath. If it was built by Men, it must have been before the Shire was gifted to the hobbits. Maybe the people whose kings lie buried in the Barrow-downs built the circle? Or, maybe they came over the circles and felt that the place had been sacred for the older peoples, and placed their tombs there.
Author's reply
Yes, I'm guessing some time between Earendil's coming and the time of the Dunadain--and likely closer to the time of Earendil's first rising is what I imagine.
Virtuella
· 17 July 2012
· Chapter 99: In the Cove
Aw, that's sweet. I wish Frodo would come and teach my kids to swim - all they want to do is splash about. I suppose the Brandywine River is a much more motivating venue than the local swimming pool. ;-) Well done for the parents who know when to let go.
Author's reply
I suppose the Brandywine River is a much more motivating venue than the local swimming pool. ;-)
Much more motivating! It's a fanon of my Shire 'verse that after Drogo and Primula drowned, the Master made a rule that all inhabitants of Brandy Hall, even those who married into the Family, had to learn at least the basics of swimming.
Larner
· 17 July 2012
· Chapter 99: In the Cove
And who better to teach him than Frodo, who knows both the delight and the danger that the river offers. Lovely!
Author's reply
Indeed! He will want to make sure his little cousin will be safe as well as enjoy the water.
eiluj
· 16 July 2012
· Chapter 98: Ten Years After There and Back Again
Re-reading this today, I suddenly realize how, by giving Bilbo especial friendships with Chop and Siggy, you have made another reason for Frodo to be so close to Merry, Pip, and Freddy.
Author's reply
You are absolutely bang on target. I use what we know of the characters we see in canon to "reverse engineer" the characters we don't--by seeing how Frodo's friendships were formed, I can extrapolate something of how it might have been for Bilbo.
Antane
· 16 July 2012
· Chapter 99: In the Cove
What a sweet story! Love Merry's excitement and of course Frodo too. :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Learning to swim is a very exciting venture!
Andrea
· 3 July 2012
· Chapter 98: Ten Years After There and Back Again
A nice little story in which we have a look at Bilbo through Siggy's eyes! His adventure changed him in many ways and made him aware of the wide world of which the Shire is only a very small (but still important) part.
"To sixty!"
Happy birthday to you and many happy returns :-)
Author's reply
*grin* Thank you very much dear!
Lindelea
· 3 July 2012
· Chapter 98: Ten Years After There and Back Again
How delightful a nightcap, well worth stretching bedtime a few extra moments...!
I love Siggy, a most suitable best cousin indeed, especially with his curiosity about life in general and concern about Bilbo in particular. Nice touch, Bilbo noticing his youthfulness-by-comparison and wondering a bit, and not quite comfortable with the idea.
Happiest of happy days to you. (And many more, I hope.)
*hugs*
Lin
Author's reply
I'm so glad you think so!
It just had always seemed logical to me that Bilbo would be good friends with a cousin who shared his birth year. And I think that to begin with, only those who were close to him would notice the difference--and for Bilbo not thinking too much of it to begin with-- yet just a little bit of unease, because perhaps deep down he feels something not quite right even at this early stage.
Thank you very much, dear! (((hugs back)))
Virtuella
· 2 July 2012
· Chapter 98: Ten Years After There and Back Again
That's a lovely in-between piece, reflecting on the past and weaving in some foreshadowing. Subtle and insightful. Happy birthday to you!
Author's reply
Thank you very much dear!
Andrea
· 22 May 2012
· Chapter 97: A Horse is a Horse Of Course
A great explanation of how Boromir lost his horse. I can very well imagine that such things happened to him.
Maybe it was vanity that made him take the stallion, or was it the fact that Theodered called it "very spirited"? Some men react promptly to such "key words" ;-)
Anyway, the distraction worked very well!
Author's reply
*grin* Thanks! I'm glad you think it plausible!
I am quite sure a certain amount of vanity was involved, though I'm also sure it was of the subconscious sort. Clearly, however, he was not too vain to admit his mistake to his hobbit friends.
Virtuella
· 22 May 2012
· Chapter 97: A Horse is a Horse Of Course
Ah, good one! This is a very believable mishap, and one that suits Boromir's character very well.
Author's reply
Thank you, dear! It seemed believable to me, and I'm glad you see it so. And it's kind of nice to think that Boromir's horse, at least, did not die.
Larner
· 22 May 2012
· Chapter 97: A Horse is a Horse Of Course
Oh, dear--that indeed proved quite the story! Trust Merry and Pippin to seek to distract the Man as they did, and bless him for recognizing it--until the Ring again recaptured his attention, of course.
Author's reply
I am quite sure that these two, focused on Frodo as they were, would be highly attuned to anything that would affect him-- especially in the attitude of a comrade. And they'd do their best to alleviate the situation.
Unfortunately at this point in time the Ring was simply growing too strong for Boromir.
eiluj
· 21 May 2012
· Chapter 97: A Horse is a Horse Of Course
Nice to see a happy interval in this difficult part of the journey.
Author's reply
They were on the River for several days; I'm sure that there were at least a few lighter moments, especially with hobbits among them. I'm glad you liked it.
I absolutely love this story. What a terrific and creative origin for this game, and I imagine it being joyously played in the West to this day!
Author's reply
Thanks dear! I thought it might be fun to imagine the game originating with hobbits!
periantari
· 11 May 2012
· Chapter 42: On Amon Sûl
I really like this! The moment after the stabbing proves to be one of the most painful and trying times for Frodo, one of the hardest moments fro him during the Quest. I love how the hobbits are there for him during this time.
I liked the interaction you have here as well.
Good job in this! <3Weathertop to Rivendell fics ;)
Author's reply
I thought you might like this one! I'm glad you did.
Andrea
· 10 February 2012
· Chapter 96: Uncle Bingo Baggins' Bingo Bash
Great story, Dreamflower!
Now we know where Bingo was invented and after whom it was named ;-)
It is funny to imagine Elrond's children playing Bingo - and Erestor, of course.
I also liked the names of the Bolger children, Rudivar and Odogar - very Bolgerish, indeed!
And last, but not least, where hobbit children are gathered, a Tip and Tulip Story is not far away :-)
Thank you!
Antane
· 10 February 2012
· Chapter 93: Wakenings
I've gotten really behind on some stories, sorry! These are neat stories, especially the end here with that smile reaching his eyes - celebrate, celebrate! Love the love between the three.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
So hobbits invented golf and bingo, huh? The former is such a cute part of The Hobbit. Love to imagine that Frodo and Sam would join Celebrian in those afternoon games, just in time for tea too. :) You should write a sequel! *prods you with furry foot*
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Ah, but I do love this introduction of Bingo to the world by Uncle Bingo! And I'm still glad that Bingo Bolger-Baggins got changed to Frodo! Heh! Thanks for this, Dreamflower!
Bingo does seem like the sort of game hobbits would have enjoyed. I wouldn't have thought about it in connection with elves, but that works too....
I wonder if we have the game from the Shire-hobbits or the Gondorians?
walkerskye
· 28 January 2012
· Chapter 33: Spring Chicken
Reading one of your recipe stories at bedtime just makes me want to sneak to the kitchen for a late night snack, but there s nothing out there that sounds as good as Sam s chicken! I ll have to try that recipe come Sunday. Why not post a whole Hobbity cookbook?
Author's reply
I only just now found this review! (My notifications weren't working for a while--longer than I knew, actually.)
I hope that you did get the chance to try out Sam's chicken and that it was enjoyable!
Over at the Many Paths to Tread Archive, I did put my recipe fics together in a series.