Reviews (166)

Author's reply

Tolkien clearly indicated Maggot and Bombadil were acquainted, and so I figured that they must meet to talk on occasion, probably when Maggot was on the Buckland side of the river to do business. And if Radagast might have been visiting the Eldest during one of his infrequent visits west of the mountains, might he not also take advantage of the chance to meet a second wizard? Those who loved Frodo in Brandy Hall must have regretted him leaving, but must also have realized that in this case it was for the best. And I think they would have rejoiced to see Frodo's basic cheerful nature restored, and to see him fully happy once more.

Author's reply

Oh, indeed--Frodo couldn't have endured without losing part of himself, I suspect.

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Am trying to update every two days. Had hoped to have this finished by Mothers Day, but it was not to be. I like to make the world of Middle Earth realistic, and admit I've been watching the BBC/Masterpiece Theater version of "Emma" and was inspired for the scene with the ribbons by that. But that's the world of the Shire as I've imagined it and as Tolkien himself appears to have seen it, the inhabitants almost straight out of nineteenth century English rural society. I'm honored you appreciate the character studies, and hope you enjoyed todays short in "Moments in Time" as well. It was fun to write. And I think that Bilbo must have been deeply attached to his own home. But when the time went I suspect he went without looking back--mostly.

Author's reply

The storm and its resulting flooding is patterned on one that affected our region some years ago, with some aspects of a second storm that downed thousands of trees just in the small city we lived in at the time. Gomez had to have good reason to give over his antagonism against Frodo; and I don't think that Frodo would ever care who it was who needed help--he'd just plunge in and do what he could. Apparently the Elven description of the final depression leading to death after deep personal loss, the gradual letting-go of their feär, was referred to as "fading," and the Fallohide Hobbits, from whom the Tooks and Bagginses were descended (and to a lesser extent the Oldbuck/Brandybucks, who had a fair amount of Stoor to them) were associated with the Elves of the upper Anduin valley. That this term would pass into usage amongst Hobbits of the Shire just seemed logical, particularly in the case of those who sank into melancholy and depression as Frodo was doing. That Menegilda might have dreamed truly, but that this was something that must be endured that Frodo would choose to go to the Undying Lands in the end seems logical; and as Galadriel indicated, some situations aren't even likely to occur unless you purposely turn out of your way to try to forestall them, as it proved Menegilda was doing. I've been trying to show the situation I've described briefly in my other stories as it realistically might have happened. And we do have to own ourselves before we can give ourselves properly to others. So glad you appreciate it.

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Oh, you'll make it through, Inkling--I have trust in you! This is my Mothers Day gift to many I've come to love who've been mothers and second mothers, as I was for so long. Frodo's cry is patterned on my grandson's cry for the first few days of his life. I swear, I was wondering who had brought a small cat into the hospital room the first time he made it. And of course Frodo would have such a special cry. Yes, every mother desires that for her child; and none of us can deliver on that promise.

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One of the truest things said by Galadriel as she invites Frodo and Sam to look into her mirror is that it is a poor guide for action--that it shows what is, what was, what will be, AND what might come to pass ONLY if one turns out of ones path to attempt to forestall it. And Menegilda, in seeking to spare Frodo heart failure in the future only, through enforced inactivity and helping bring on depression in Frodo, serves to cause the earliest symptoms of the condition herself. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow, which is why we who are Christians were commanded by our Lord to live our fullest today. Aragorn, a mortal raised by the one group of Elves in Middle Earth who have had time and experience with mortals to appreciate just how ephemeral mortal life can be, has been raised to appreciate this truth for himself, and to grasp to him and celebrate those joys that are granted to him as they are presented. Bilbo seeks to do the same for Frodo, although his wisdom is more native and due to his own experience. "He who would save his life shall lose it, and he who would offer up his life for my sake shall find it." The paradox of mortality stated simply. It's not the length of our lives that matter, but the quality we give to them and receive from them. That's what we offer back. For years Bilbo did only what was expected of him, and he lived a "safe" life, enjoying adventure vicariously through his books. Now that he has faced life and real adventure, he would not see Frodo spared the joy of living in the moment simply because Menegilda would seek to preserve him, knowing that things that are preserved retain the same seeming indefinitely do so because they have died. Have stood on the square to look at the site of Margaret Clitheroe's death. Again, in seeking to turn away evil far more evil was worked. In West Memphis, Arkansas, the region sought to scrub away an evil by imagining an even worse one and choosing a scapegoat, sacrificing two more lives in order to make certain their chosen scapegoat suffered for what it's most likely he had nothing to do with. This past week at last hope is come that that terrible injustice will be made right for its three victims, who have lost fourteen years so far, and they wait patiently for the next round of court hearings that will decide their fate. Meanwhile someone else got away with a horrible crime. Pray for Jessie, Jason, and Damien, please, and for the memory of Chris, Steve, and Michael. And let us rejoice in the day God has given us.

Author's reply

Yes, at last what needs to be done is being done, and at last all are in agreement. And they will miss Frodo indeed, and particularly Merry, who does get his own little brother/cousin to share with Frodo. But Bilbo had to be frightened for Frodo's health and safety to intervene at last. None too soon, of course.

Author's reply

Yes, at last they've asserted themselves, and to Frodo's benefit. The way the storm runs is based on two storms that hit this region, both in the fall, the second one bringing warm rain after two snowfalls as is described here. The whole area knew freak floods; and when soil becomes too saturated trees are more easily toppled by heavy winds. The idea of the area below Brand Hall forming a flood plain I described in "Floods and Glamours," and is based on the flood plain of the Mersey River outside Manchester, England, there in Sale where friends have lived and watched the river's behavior for half a century or better. And of course Hobbits are tough in the fiber--that's as Tolkien himself describes them, after all! Merilinde may admire Frodo, but she and Brendi are already an item, as described in "The Ties of Family" and "The Acceptable Sacrifice." And I do believe the Ring Itself played a strong part in Frodo and Bilbo remaining bachelors. And indeed, Pippin came along just exactly at the right time for Merry. You're right there! Heh!

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Yes, Menegilda understands, and even accepts. Bilbo was right to insist. No question--Frodo will know at least eleven years of upswing now. Thanks so for the comments.

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Yes, definitely not a moment too soon. And at last Menegilda herself has accepted she's gone too far, and that Frodo needs this, as does Esme. As for blessing the old Hobbit--I have, countless times. Thanks so for the comments, Shirebound.

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Yes, this is the beginning of several relationships that led nowhere, I fear--or at least not on Frodo's side of the equation. I, of course, love the idea of Frodo as a dancer, and would imagine even as a youngster he was inspiring others. And it's indeed coming near time to get Frodo out of there--you and Tumnus have the right of it. But there's one last disagreement left to face, and a crisis to surmount. Yes, the pranks of glued book and the retaliation of the rats and mice was first mentioned in "Reconciliation" where Brendi is letting Bard know how devious Frodo could be at times. As for your deduction as to the origin of "Ellis"--you're completely right, of course. Tumnus for Lewis, Albus Sweetwater for Rowling, Jonkenton at Aunt Lilac's place for Merrit, Gwynhumara and Artos for Sutcliff--I do like to include my tributes to many of my favorite authors in my stories.

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Brendi's mentioned glancingly from my first story, "For Eyes to See as Can," although he doesn't garner a name or true identity other than "Frodo's Brandybuck Lawyer" until "The Choice of Healing." And as my stories continue he gains more and more presence. He truly comes into his own in "The Ties of Family," which focuses mostly on Narcissa Boffin and the second family of Frodo's Uncle Dudo, and is a staple once Frodo returns from Gondor in "The Acceptable Sacrifice" and a few other stories. I love the observation that Frodo's chafing as much at his restrictions as at his freedoms--a lovely choice of wording as well as so true; and he's finding out what his limitations are. Considering how much you've brought Merry's family to life, I am honored at your appreciation of the structure of the Hall as I've written it. Thank you SO much! One listmember on the HASA list characterized all original characters as "Mary Sues" of a sort; I disagree completely. Original characters ought to add to the richness of Middle Earth, each showing his or her own strengths and weaknesses; this is certainly what I've sought to do with Brendi, Ruvemir, Isumbard, Bartolo, Alvric, Tribbals Broadloam, An'Sohrabi, and the other characters I've added to Arda, and those like Merry's little Daisy and Theo and Tansy and Jamy you've brought to life. Am so very glad you find mine as delightful as I've found yours, and that we both delight to speculate on the society that spawned the likes of Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Otho, Lobelia, and Lotho.

Author's reply

Yes, the time is coming when Frodo indeed needs to be out of here. He's lost the one teacher that had any hope of challenging him there in Buckland, and he needs the freedom to do and become all that he can in the time given him.

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It's coming, Linda. But there's no question Frodo's about due for a change of scene.

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I decided to settle one on him, and this is my own little tribute to E. Pargeter. Heh! Yes, Frodo's being noticed and beginning to notice in return, although nothing serious at this time. I'd decided early on that those who worked at the Hall or the Great Smial could count on getting at least a rudimentary education out of it, and that such a beginning would often lead to an individual finding he could now keep books well enough to run a business properly and so on. And I've met my share of Dirna's in my life. It's always a joy to tie this story into others, and I had to revisit the vengeance on Boridoc at some time--I think the first time it was mentioned was in "Reconciliation" when Brendi was telling Bard what Frodo had been like as Esme and Sara's ward. And am so glad you appreciated the dragonflies, of course. There have to be a few flying insects in my stories, you know! Heh! Teaching isn't always easy, I agree. A former colleague once said something like this to me when I asked how raising Scottish Highlander cattle compared to teaching. And Bilbo knows too well where trying to get along with Gilda would be likely to lead. As for being jealous, I AM!!! I wanna go, too! I wanna go, too! If you have time, visit the Jorvik Experience, and maybe go through the Undercroft in York Minster. And if you visit the Roman era museum there in the Minster Gardens, tell me if the child's shoe is still on exhibition. I LOVE that shoe! And walk the walls for me, if you can. Last time I was there I spent SO much money going through bookshops. Bookshops are my downfall! But I found so many Terry Pratchett books.

Author's reply

There are some major disagreements coming up, but they'll realize that even Gilda can realize that there are limits to what she should do. As for how Gilda would have treated Frodo post-quest--I fear you are all too right. We have about two years before Bilbo chooses to take Frodo, so there is still time for conflict still. Frodo is trying to be patient, but even he has his limits. Yes, great minds think alike, and you find yourself agreeing with Marguerite's unnamed companion. She does sound a reasonable type, at least. I had to look again at Boridoc and the rats and mice--glad you remembered it from "Reconciliation." Yes, I do believe Esme suspects, but as with the whitewash and the chicken feathers I think she'll let it stand as it is. Thanks so much for the comments, Kitty.

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I hadn't even thought of your use of the term, Dreamflower. But it's definitely a proper one, of course. Right now I wanted to highlight the disparity between being expected to be a child of Brandy Hall and what he might end up being, which was why I chose it. And I think that there would be a division between Frodo's supporters and detractors, and that the detractors might very well have ideas as to how remaining in the Hall could be detrimental to the lad. As for the anticipated fireworks--I think there may be a few less than one might anticipate. This chapter almost ended up twice its current length until I realized I actually had two chapters rather than one super-long one. Heh!

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Oh, don't I know it, Linda. I was exceptionally short and bookish as a child and was a frequent target for bullies; and many of my students and clients have experienced the same phenomenon.

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Yes, once Frodo's learned how to play a prank and figure out how to distract others he'd do it up right, I think, and take it to rather interesting extremes--until as must happen he got caught. As for the glue on Lalia's chair, he's not telling, and neither am I! (Snort!) The full story of Menegilda's gaffer and the pony is still to be revealed, at which time I hope her fears may be a bit more understandable. No one else had told had told Gilda about the rides on the bull, which is a nod to a story here about how Frodo earned the title "The Terror of Buckland": she's just learning about it from others and is most upset by it, I fear. As for Timono and "You have to feel sorry for me"--I went through my personal bout of that also at age eight, when I felt everyone should indulge me first because my father had died (when I was a baby, so I grew up with a perfectly serviceable stepdad who'd been there for us as long as I could remember, but he wasn't MY father--my, I was an ungrateful child!), and because we'd moved from a city neighborhood where I was within minutes of many classmates to a new home on the remains of a farm in the country where the only two kids my age within walking distance lived a half mile in each direction, and I couldn't stand the one and didn't meet the other until we went to junior high together as we went to different grade schools. So, I can partly appreciate Timono's situation at the same time I find I, too, don't particularly like him.

Author's reply

I'm trying to match the younger Farmer Maggot to the one who welcomed Frodo Baggins into his home once he realized the younger Hobbit was being pursued by the Black Rider and whose wife presented that dish of mushrooms contained in the basket Frodo carried from there to Crickhollow. He obviously held a degree of respect for the one who used to raid his mushroom patch, after all; it was obvious to me that Frodo had totally misjudged the farmer, particularly as Pippin obviously knew and deeply respected him and had visited his place alongside Merry, not to mention Bombadil's estimation of the fellow stated later. Few who haven't had much experience with dogs are able to tell much about the animals' true moods. My niece constantly misread the true state of mind of our dogs, and as a result her daughter has developed an aversion to them that is quite exaggeratedly silly. For Frodo to believe that the dog chasing him meant the dog intended to do him harm when in reality it only wanted to play seemed very likely. And in the minds of some there's not a good deal of difference between being accounted a rascal or a terror. So glad you appreciate how I've tried to picture Maggot.

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Oh, yes, too clever by half; and of course he'd get caught in the end. But I bet it was great fun while it lasted.

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I dealt with my share of bullies when I was a child, from the kid who took my balls in elementary school to the girl who would lay in wait for me on my way home from the store with my wax coke bottles filled with juice and steal them from me and the kid who would harass me while I was out selling raffle tickets from school. And I felt that Frodo would recognize at the time the only way to handle the situation was to face such as Gomez down himself, and then take advantage of Bilbo's hints to let Gomez be caught looking as if he were caught in his own pranks backfired. No, there's a bit more to Bartolo's resentment than just Frodo failing to recognize Lavinia's interest; had Frodo actually noted it and responded, it's likely Bartolo would have felt the same amount of resentment. With the likes of young Bartolo Bracegirdle responding to such as Frodo Baggins there's no pleasing them, I fear. Yes, adolescence can be so uncomfortable to live through! Heh!

Author's reply

As you'll realize, Gilda's concerns are less regarding the ponies themselves being dangerous than how the excitement of being around ponies might affect Frodo. But you are certainly right about how inexperience makes it more likely someone will have an accident around an animal in the future. I certainly agree with your comments here. I still am certain that whatever Frodo did throughout his life would have been done with a great deal of flair and thoroughness, whether it's taking revenge on bullies or raiding the farms of the Marish. Thanks so much for the comments, Kitty.

Author's reply

Yes--don't let an already "pretty lad" do what the other kids are doing and it only makes the differences more pronounced and likely to be disparaged. And Esme needed to appreciate that Frodo is seen that way and ought not to be treated as is happening. That other kids would be likely to recognize a fineness of character in Frodo and come to respect it seemed likely, to me at least, leading some of them to begin standing up for Frodo against the bullies. I know one bully who used to target me stopped when she realized that her neighbor liked me and respected me for the fair way I treated younger kids at school. To find Gail's friendship helped stop the deviling I was receiving from her neighbor was very refreshing when I was a young teen. And for Frodo to realize he could exploit Gomez's own proclivities to get him back seemed just too likely. Yes, mentioned that party first in TAS, and now we're actually seeing part of it. And Timono's voyeurism and tendency to steal small things was mentioned there, as well. As for all the reason why Barti hasn't liked Frodo--you're right, it's more than that Frodo didn't notice Lavinia at the dance. As for Merry playing in the mud--I loved Elanor Winterflower's image of Merry's granddaughter being so delightfully grubby, and figured she had to have come by it honestly! Heh!

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To stick kids' heads in toilets is common enough by bullies here in the States, or at least here on the west coast; and certainly Harry Potter was threatened with such a fate by his odious cousin Dudley, showing it must be a fairly common threat there in England as well. In days when privies fed into cesspools or into pits under outhouse seats it could be much nastier. And in the end the bullies here were brought down by their own tendencies to be vindictive! Am so glad you like that first encounter between the Elvish Hobbit and a representative of the Firstborn Yes, Esme's getting some backbone at last. Well, one does hope someone will help bring out the best in such oddballs as Timono. Yes, his father is quite mad, and Timono has a bit too much narcissism himself to be brought out of his downward spiral toward criminality by acquaintance with Frodo, whose own unusual nature is taking him in a quite different direction. This is only part of why Barti doesn't like Frodo, and it would likely have been just as offensive to him had Frodo responded to Lavinia's first fascination. And hope you like the next chapter. Wish I'd had more time to work on chapter five!