Queen Galadriel
· 17 March 2007
· Chapter 14: N: Like a Nimble Nimrodel
Oh, how very interesting. We see few enough tales of any of the Hobbits (except Bilbo) in old age, and when they do come up I'm sometimes afraid to read them because too often they're sad. But this one is lovely--the perfect blend of wistfulness and...well, Hobbity-ness. :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
I'm glad you liked the way I showed Pippin in this. I've always thought that he and Merry must have had several years in Minas Tirith, being spoiled rotten by the Men of the King's Court, before they passed--after all, both were great-great grandsons of Gerontius. They'd never lose their hobbity-ness, I don't think, or their personalities.
If you want to read an *absolutely* brilliant story of Merry and Pippin at their stage of life, one that is *not* truly sad (so far) you should read "A Secret Gate", posted here by elanor winterflowers! It's amazing--probably the best fic I've ever read.
GamgeeFest
· 17 March 2007
· Chapter 15: O: Like an Ornery Oromë
*giggles* Oh, Orome will just love his namesake. :) Seems Faramir has his father's habit (a la GW) of naming pets after people. But a Vala? hehehe He's an adorable pony. Faramir should have fun trying to ride him.
Author's reply
I hope so! This was a really *hard* prompt! And I think that Orome came from the South with his name already attached. Probably the *other* Faramir named him--for his thunderous personality, and the arrow-shaped blaze.
Riding him will be a trip. I have to confess, Orome's personality is more than a little influenced by Lindelea's "StarFire". Riding him may be quite a challenge for Fam!
Pearl Took
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 14: N: Like a Nimble Nimrodel
I know little of Elves and Elven lore, but the story was sad and beautiful as many in the Silmarillion are.
I can so see Pippin still being able to get that sweet beseeching look, even in his old age :-)
Wonderful, Dreamflower!
Author's reply
Well, the story of Nimrodel is in LotR, of course, in Legolas' song. But the part about Mithrellas is in some of the other books: I *think* Unfinished Tales, and/or Peoples of Middle-earth. She was among Nimrodel's companions, who were lost in the White Mountains and found by Imrazor. All we are told is that they married, she had a son and a daughter, and then she vanished. But her son is the ancestor of Prince Imrahil. As far as I know, she is the *only* recorded instance of a female Elf marrying a Man. She was *not* one of the High Elves, however, but only a Wood-elf.
I think that you are quite right about Pippin. He knew how to hold on to a good thing when he had it!
Thanks! 8-)
GamgeeFest
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 14: N: Like a Nimble Nimrodel
What an interesting story! It's still not quite hobbity, but it's closer than the other version. Maybe they can go gather Merry on the way to luncheon and rescue those poor apprentices! LOL ;)
Author's reply
No, it's not hobbity, but at least it's not bloodthirsty! And it would have been a suitable version for the nursemaid to tell Imrahil's young children.
I like that--I can just imagine it. I have this sort of vision of Merry and Pippin living in the old guesthouse, and being very sought after by the members of the King's court. Some people write fics where they die right after arriving in Gondor, but I think they may have had a good many years ahead of them there--they are both, after all, the great-great-grandsons of the Old Took!
GamgeeFest
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 13: M: Like Marrying Merry
I always enjoy your wedding ceremonies. They're so hobbity. :D And the Gamgee children have married into both the Took and the Brandybuck families. Now they are all truly family. Frodo would be so happy if he knew. :)
Author's reply
I've always felt that it was probable that at least one of Sam's children would marry into the Brandybucks. When I thought up this little idea, I thought it would be Pippin-lad or Hamfast, who are closer to Dilly in age. But, no, it was Merry's own namesake who stood up there next to Frodo-lad. I was quite surprised!
I think Frodo would have been *thrilled* to have Sam's children marry into Merry and Pippin's families!
GamgeeFest
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 12: L: Like a Legacy of Legolas
*snerk* The only bad one in this fic is Merry! What a stinker! :P Thank goodness Pippin was teaching Ilbie and not Merry; or they wouldn't have gotten past the first lesson!
Author's reply
*giggle* He *is* being a bit of a twit, in this one, but he'd never *say* anything out loud to Ilberic, or hurt his feelings. But Merry's own interest in music is minimal. He doesn't mind singing at celebrations or walking along, but he doesn't want to play anything (even the tambour, which his mother made him do when he was younger), and he'd much rather just listen to Pippin or his mother, who have rather spoiled him for listening to anyone else, LOL!
No, I'm afraid Ilbie would have looked in vain to Merry for *music* lessons, LOL!
GamgeeFest
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 11: K: Like Kissing the King of Númenor
Lovely! I like that Elrond took the moment to remind Frodo of the good he has done. I only hope that Frodo can accept it.
Author's reply
I hope so too, but I think that while he may accept it in his head, his heart will have a hard time believing it.
GamgeeFest
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 10: J: Like Juggling the Jewels of Fëanor
So, Fatty's just as enthralled with Elves as Frodo and Sam. I was confused reading that story too, but for entirely different reasons! Too many names, lol! ;)
Author's reply
My Fatty always had a similar interest, though he hid it from most people. He was very fond of the stories, but unlike Frodo, had no interest at that stage of his life in going to find out for himself.
The Silm *is* a hard read. I truly respect writers whose fandom is mainly in the Silm--all those characters, and all that vast amount of time, and all the confusion of motives--it's very difficult; I don't know how they *do* keep it straight!
GamgeeFest
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 9: I: Like Inspiring Ilúvatar
I was wondering why those words kept repeating! lol I liked this. It's very straigtforward, which leads me to believe that Frodo did in fact heal in Valinor - none of the drama or angst of his dream poem found in "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil".
Author's reply
Yes, that's why they were repeated. Sestinas are a very strict form, and in some ways harder than rhyme, but they are interesting to construct.
I'm glad that you found it straightforward, and indicative of his healing--it's what I was trying to convey.
Larner
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 14: N: Like a Nimble Nimrodel
Oh, so very, very sweet, this version. And I certainly side with Merry about Men being perhaps a bit too ready to hear and tell (and act out) stories about murders and vengeances gone wrong.
Author's reply
I think it kind of shows the difference in hobbit-nature: murder is foreign to them, even to hobbits who've lived among Men, it seems strange and distressing. They wouldn't find much to like in stories about it.
And I'm glad you think the version Amrothos told was sweet--I wanted it to be the sort of version suitable for the nursery, as well as suitable for Mithrellas' young descendants.
Larner
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 12: L: Like a Legacy of Legolas
Elf magic and confidence make a powerful combination, I think. How lovely! Ilberic needed confidence, and the thought these were special transferred his concern off himself, allowing his true talent to be seen at last.
Ah, Merry--you ought to realize that of course Ilberic would be good, playing such a special set of pipes, pipes triply blest--by the one who made them; the land in which they were wrought; and by the one who bestowed them. He IS Fallohide through and through, our Pippin.
Author's reply
Exactly! And of course, Pippin knew that intuitively.
Sadly, Merry's own lack of interest in playing an instrument causes him to be less than patient. He's been a bit spoiled by listening to Pippin, who's a superb musician, and who was never a beginner for long when learning a new instrument.
And, of course, you are quite right about the pipes *and* Pippin, and I think that Legolas himself would appreciate Pippin's giving the pipes to Ilbie.
Larner
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 13: M: Like Marrying Merry
I strongly suspect Frodo is proud indeed. How wonderful! And Pippin's final comment is SO Pippin! Love it!
Author's reply
Of course he is!
Pippin just *had* to have the last word. LOL!
SurgicalSteel
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 14: N: Like a Nimble Nimrodel
I liked this quite a lot. Loved the different versions of the Mithrellas legend.
Author's reply
It seemed to me that an open ended story like that would have many different versions told of it, much as we see all sorts of speculation nowadays when something sensational like that happens. Or perhaps, much like fanfic--everyone has their own idea of a "proper" ending.
It's quite fascinating, and I'd love, for myself, to learn JRRT's own take on the story!
Pearl Took
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 13: M: Like Marrying Merry
Aw!! That's wonderful!!
"Pippin chuckled. “Two Merrys in the family now. Well, Estella will only have to call once at supper-time!”"
That's our Pip! LOL
Author's reply
Yes, it is very Pippin, isn't it? He always has to haave the last word if he can get it, LOL!
Queen Galadriel
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 13: M: Like Marrying Merry
Ah, Dreamflower, I love your wedding stories. This one was especially touching, and, as you said, not what I expected! And leave it to Pip to give everyone a reason to laugh at the end. Weddings are wonderful, aren't they? :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
I enjoy writing weddings, especially hobbit weddings!
It seemed to me that having Merry *doing* the marrying instead of *being* married, would be fun. And I'd originally intended the bridegroom to be Pippin-lad, whose just a bit closer to her age; but the hobbits were ahead of me, and I was quite surprised to realize it was Merry-lad up there at the groom's place next to Frodo-lad! LOL!
And of course Pip had to have the last word!
Linda Hoyland
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 13: M: Like Marrying Merry
A nice twist,very sweet.
Author's reply
Thanks! 8-)
Pearl Took
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 12: L: Like a Legacy of Legolas
Dear Pippin! What a wonderful thing to do.
I could use a "magic" fiddle!
A dear story :-)
Author's reply
He's a generous soul, isn't he?
So could I. *sigh* I just have to make do with writing Pippin as a musical genius.
Pearl Took
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 11: K: Like Kissing the King of Númenor
Indeed!
Author's reply
8-)
Pearl Took
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 10: J: Like Juggling the Jewels of Fëanor
Fatty isn't the only one who finds the Silmarillion confusing! Why do so many of their name have to begin with "F"? LOL
Author's reply
*snicker* Well, I suppose that's the philologist coming out in JRRT. With him a name was never *just* a name, and it always had to fit whatever language it was in. So what if it confused the reader?
(And what about LotR? Frodo, Fredegar, Faramir... And over half the hobbit last names start with "B") LOL!
Pearl Took
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 9: I: Like Inspiring Ilúvatar
"Amazing Grace" does indeed fit Frodo well :-) This was beautiful.
Author's reply
Thank you very much! It just hit me a couple of weeks back, how well that verse fit him.
Pearl Took
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 8: H: Like a Hale Halbarad
Lovely! Full of wonderful word pictures :-)
Author's reply
Thank you! 8-)
PIppinfan1988
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 8: H: Like a Hale Halbarad
For some reason, I adore the idea of Big Folk and Hobbits mingling with one another, so I loved this tale. I wished that there was more to the story - but I alwasy want more - even though the story is well and complete, lol.
The clarity of the scene was fabulous - I felt as if I was right there among the characters and watching it all unfold. :-) I really enjoy that. :-)
PF
Author's reply
*blushes* Why thank you dear! That's quite a compliment!
PIppinfan1988
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 7: G: Like a Gasping Galadriel
That was great! The Professor briefly notes what transpires in other parts of Middle-earth while the War is going on in the south, but I think you brought out something lovely in Galadriel that I didn't see in the Book. Its probably just my own whacked interpretation, but I took her to be somewhat aloof, yet here, I liked her. But, as you know, I love this universe of yours. :-)
PF
Author's reply
I haven't done Galadriel very often, but I've done a couple of other drabbles with her. And I remember that in my first reading of the book, like you, I thought her aloof and even, dare I say it, sinister. But after many more readings, I've come to appreciate her kindness and sorrow and bravery.
She had to be desperate to know what was going on--so many that she loved in peril at that moment! Her husband, her grandsons and her granddaughter's betrothed on the front lines of battle; her son-in-law protecting his realm; and the brave and small beings she had sent off from Lothlorien on a seemingly hopeless mission.
PIppinfan1988
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 6: F: Like a Fearful Faramir
That was yet another sweet scene of my favourite Fab Four having a lovely time together while helping Faramir get ready for the Big Question. The part of Frodo amazed at Sam's wager was priceless! :-)
PF
Author's reply
You know what's funny? Originally, it was just to be a drabble of Pippin helping Faramir. I was quite astonished when I realized the other three were in the room and had something to say as well, LOL!
I like the idea that as well as Frodo thought he knew Sam, there were still some surprises left!
Lindelea
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 11: K: Like Kissing the King of Númenor
Aw, just lovely, and sort of the thing that I thought of when I saw the prompt. Once again, GMTA, but you have done it so very well, here, that I'll leave all the work to you and simply bask in the glow of reading the result.
Hugs,
Lin
Author's reply
Thank you, Lin!
I really wanted to say more about that kiss, but I didn't have 200 words, so I had to make do with 100. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!