Reviews (879)

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To admit Sam wasn't a ninnyhammer after all must have been both difficult and rewarding for the old fellow. I've honored the mothers who might read my stories--this is for the dads!

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Thank you, Pearl. This was among the last years of old Hamfast's life, and I'd think his children would want to find some way of bringing him full circle so he could see how his devotion to his family had paid off. So glad it moved you.

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Thank you, Lindelea. I did one for Mothers Day--had to get in a proper tribute for Dads, too. See you next week.

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Glad you enjoyed it, Raksha. Poor Halgil--only trying to do his job.... Thanks for the feedback.

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Well, we all try to slip away from time to time, I think. Yes, the guards of the Citadel have enough to worry about without teenagers thinking to slip away on their own; but that's the way of it sometimes, after all. And Strider finds his hunting skills work to his advantage even when he's been largely stuck in town for most of the last few years. And of course, he does work in the Citadel for the most part! Glad to see the note from you! Thanks!

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Yes, a fairly simple adventure for the two of them, and a chance for two fathers who also find themselves at times resenting the restrictions placed on themselves to let themselves loose a bit as well. Halgil has had enough of a shock, I suspect, realizing just who it was he pulled out of the market crowd--I suspect Strider is amused to let him stew in his own juices for the moment. So--Jet and the kitchen are both getting a spring cleaning, are they? Kerry and Belinda and the cats all got baths--Yogi and Ruffy are due them next. Glad to hear that the procedures are being used there as they are now commonly used in our region of the country, at least. Seattle and Tacoma are our nearest big cities, and both are well known for medical innovation, so such things tend to spread fairly quickly to our more remote area, as we're less than a hundred miles from either. A blessed Easter to you and your family!

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Yes, adolescents always find themselves resenting the restrictions they must live under, or so my own children taught me. Aragorn is a reasonable person, and knows that when a child is intent on doing what he or she desires even the best of guards may prove impossible to keep. He expects his daughter to succeed at times in evading them, just as he expects them to seek her out and find her as quickly as can be arranged. Halgil has just had his first experience with the Royal Princess, although she may well visit the markets alone again, properly followed by a discrete guard, of course. It's likely that Melian has funds of her own, but has not been to the public market in the center of the city before, as she and other lords' daughters would be expected mostly to visit the more exclusive shops in the upper levels. Yes, she may well have been approached by a pickpocket, but I'd suspect that as the King's daughter and Elrond and Celeborn's descendant she would be far better trained in self-defense than most common pickpockets might expect. After all, look at who her uncles are! But Halgil must be in mild shock realizing just how close he came to royal displeasure. Hmm--I just found this plot bunny has reproduced. Help! And I strongly suspect Aragorn himself feels the same resentment for being always followed as she does--and he is well accustomed to having to watch out for himself, after all. Yes, he himself went off unescorted once as King, and I sincerely doubt he ever regretted doing so. And I'd be glad to communicate further about disabilities via email. I've had little to do with those with auditory deficits, other than age-related hearing loss or conditions that may be easily aided with hearing aids. Have had a few students I've needed to approach on their good sides, I'll admit. Author Reply: O, and a blessed Easter to you also. Alleluia!

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To tell the truth and yet not to reveal too much is often a difficult balancing act; and that question just begged the response! And, as a mortal himself, Aragorn is probably more in sympathy with the two girls than Arwen fully appreciates, even if he can't help feeling left out as Melian deals with the changes in perception and appreciation she finds within herself. So glad you enjoyed it. Glad the challenge was made.

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Oh, I do believe you are completely right, Bodkin, about all of it. And that Aragorn and Sam waited, probably listening quietly and with amusement as their daughters dealt with Halgil, is very likely, listening until they were certain the two lasses were ready for them to arrive and offer rescue from an increasingly embarrassing situation. And Halgil was just doing his job, after all.... Thanks so much for the feedback.

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Oh, dear--I hope the lady can bear the strain of whatever trick you may be pleased to pull on her. I never quite had the guts to do something to my grandmother or my stepdad's mother, although Heaven knows I was often tempted. As for what the two of them did--I'd think any adolescent girl in their situation would at least contemplate doing so. For a few hours of what feels like FREEDOM and anonymity, I think they'd try a number of things. And as Eldarion is also approaching adolescence, I think their father will be hard pressed to keep him under watch in a year or two. And so glad it gave you a pleasant laugh. Enjoy indeed!

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As I said, this is based on real life, and a co-worker recognized immediately the client who inspired this story. And I agree, Frodo would have been undoubtedly very pleased to see where his slate ended up.

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Yes, like daughters, like fathers in this case. I hadn't truly considered the wren farthing, but wouldn't put it past the folk of Bree to use a similar pattern. I must suppose it was sticking in my subconscious, for quite frankly I haven't seen one for so many years I'd quite forgotten about them. So glad you enjoyed this one and found it true to life, as did I. Was remembering days with two teenagers at the same time, each of whom seemed intent on causing as much disruption as possible. Heh!

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I was the tamest of the four of us, but I still drove Mom crazy at times. I was the most anxious of us, and would work myself into states if Mom was late. Glad you found yourself relating. Thanks!

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Yes, Halgil may well have saved the two of them from facing a pickpocket or something worse. And the two girls are certainly of an age to find having to be tailed constantly annoying in the extreme. And of course Melian has inherited the sense of blending in both Rangers and Elves have practiced for years, a trait she must have sensed her father approved of. And to find he can enjoy himself in his daughter's presence from time to time must have been reassuring to Aragorn. Yes, teenagers indeed! Remember when the daughter turned sixteen--found her a plaque that read, "I'm sixteen now: ask me anything while I still know it all!" and placed it on her birthday cake. She was not amused.

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Poor young guard--caught distinctly off guard by his royal princess and king both wandering around with Lord Samwise's daughter, all incognito! Glad you enjoyed it!

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Oh, that sounds like such a good plan! Let me know how it goes! This was written in response to a challenge to write a story in which Aragorn and Arwen find themselves dealing with their teenage daughter; and during the year Sam, Rosie, and Elanor stayed in Minas Anor with Aragorn and Arwen seemed a good time to place it. And of course Frodo would be proud of both of them, I'd think. So glad you enjoyed it.

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Elanor is in her early twenties, much the same age as Frodo when he went to live with Bilbo. And, being her mother's daughter, she understands the art of haggling, I'm certain. As most would believe her a small child, finding out she not only was carrying some cash but was an experienced bargainer must have been a distinct shock. And had he actually arrested Melian, I'm certain that Aragorn would not have held it against him--except he is relying strictly on "gut instinct" to identify the two girls as possibly having stolen from their parents. That Aragorn would possibly have looked askance at, I think.

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And it's likely that as Chieftain of the Rangers Aragorn has more experience with adolescents than Arwen does. But I agree--Aragorn undoubtedly has much to learn about fathering one of the creatures. Thanks for the response.

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Yes, now and then Aragorn enjoys a day of being just a private citizen and a dad, even if it's a dad of an adolescent girl. And he probably takes a perverse pleasure in disconcerting unsuspecting citizens. Poor Halgil--only doing his job, of course; but the two girls do deserve a day of relaxation, I think. Author Reply: Yes, now and then Aragorn enjoys a day of being just a private citizen and a dad, even if it's a dad of an adolescent girl. And he probably takes a perverse pleasure in disconcerting unsuspecting citizens. Poor Halgil--only doing his job, of course; but the two girls do deserve a day of relaxation, I think.

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I, too, believe Frodo himself would have been pleased to learn what use was being made of his childhood slate as well as who was using it; and am so glad you appreciate seeing Tribulation again. I've always loved working with people with disabilities, and so many former students, clients, and friends who have had Downs Syndrome have been so delightful (although I'll admit the most threatening individual I've ever known was also Downs Syndrome, although he was anything but typical). So you have a hearing disability? My husband was blinded at age nineteen in a freak accident, and many of my closest friends have been blind since birth--the fifties were the height of the period in which many children born prematurely were blinded due to excess oxygen, heat, humidity, and bright hospital lights due to Retinopathy of Prematurity, then known as Retrolental Fibroplasia. So I've spent much of my adult life living, working with and alontside, and enjoying myself with friends who are blind and otherwise visually disabled. One of my current clients who is most capable and cunning is Downs Syndrome, and he loves finding ways of trying to trick us. We all love him deeply, and always forgive him, it seems, when he manages to sneak something by us, although when we catch him in one of his cons he just accepts it with good humor while figuring out how he'll slip things past us the next time.

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I'm certain Frodo would have been very proud to realize who had inherited his old slate and how she was using it. So glad you enjoy her.

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Trisomy 21 is fascinating, and I remember how I first became aware of the genetics of the condition as a high school student and member of 4-H. One of our state institutions for the retarded sponsored a study of the condition and was examining the genetics of male calico cats, another situation in which three copies of the relevant chromosone appears; and they produced an exhibit on their study at a cat show our Junior Leadership group was volunteering at. I was fascinated. I had three Downs children in my first classroom, one in which I worked with severely and profoundly disabled teens who were also visually disabled, and I continue to have friends and clients with the condition to this day. I have a good deal of affection and respect for those I know with the condition, one that allows ability ranges from barely functioning to extraordinarily high functioning. Certainly one of the most capable of those in my current caseload has Downs. Tribbals slips into my writing now and then, you'll find. Do read Trials and Tribulation and A Luthien within the Shire. My main work has been with folk who are blind, so don't be surprised when such folk appear from time to time. Am so glad you appreciated this. My current clients all so wish to be seen as normal and do what they see others doing, and I admire their determination.

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I'm honored indeed. I find I like Tribbals a good deal and am pleased when she lets herself appear in one of my stories.

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Whether or not Tribbals realizes who used to own the slate is questionable, of course. But writing is one thing she believes folks do, so it's something she WILL do as best she can. And so her own determination reflects that of its former owner. Yes, in the end a true disciple of FB.

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Tribbals on occasion slips into my stories, first making herself known to me as I began writing Trials and Tribulation, although she held off letting me finish that one until I allowed mention of her to slip into Reunion. Then her family got mention in Ernil i Pheriannath, and she insisted on me writing A Luthien within the Shire. There's reason, I find, why after her mother's death she became mistress of her family hole rather than her brother's wife or niece by marriage.