The Life and Times of Mag the Cook by annmarwalk
Armariel · 14 July 2007 · Chapter 10: Girl Talk NEW 7/14/2007
ROFL.....Mag is a woman after my own heart......imagine having a thing for Gandalf! Not that I do, or anything...hey, I'll take Faramir, or Boromir...or Aragorn...yeah Eomer will do nicely.....but hey, yes, men.....lololol It was a nice surprise to see another Mag story up so soon! ~~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm quite encouraged by the warm welcome Mag has found here. I appreciate your taking the time to read and comment.
Armariel · 14 July 2007 · Chapter 9: Foreign Ways
An enchanting and delightful series, I hope there will be more? I'd really like to hear more from Mag. She really makes the city come alive, I can almost smell and taste it. Wonderful! (the story of Aragorn and the margarita really had me snickering!)
Author's reply
Thank you! There are more Mag stories at her LiveJournal, mag_the_cook; I'm moving many of them over here as I have time. "Unmasked" was great fun to write - just the imagery of Prince Imrahil teaching his impressionable nephews to drink maguey had me chortling for hours - and I've had wonderful response to that story in particular. I'm very glad you enjoyed these.
Baggins Babe · 14 July 2007 · Chapter 7: Unmasked
These stories are a delight - I discovered them the other morning and was almost late for work. I love Mag - she's a real character - and I was so pleased to see that she recognises Thorongil. Looking forward to more of these. Can't wait to see what she thinks of the Queen.
Author's reply
Thank you! Mag hasn't told me yet about her first meeting with the Queen, but she did let me know how miffed she was about not preparing the wedding feast ("The Wedding Guest".) There are many more Mag stories, of various lengths, at her LiveJournal Mag the Cook. (Note: some of her tales are of an adult nature. She's a very forthright gal.) I'm gradually moving some of the appropriate ones over here, as I have time. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Chibi-Kaz · 12 July 2007 · Chapter 9: Foreign Ways
Being an ameteur historian in Medieval Russian culture, I was delighted with the slightly Steppe flavor you're giving Rohan. So many authors make it thoroughly Viking! Few readers remember that The Professor's description "Vikings on Horses" really better describes the Mongols. :-) Hee hee, maybe Mag should invent Peirogies..... Cheers, Chibi-Kaz
Author's reply
The easy availability of mare's milk made kumiss a natural for Rohan, or at least to my mind! Once I got it in my head to write about it, it was very easy to find lots of reference materials. I'm very glad you found it liked this! Perhaps those cheese-dill pastries she had at the Rohirric Bar were actually pierogies? It's a definite possibility!
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 6: News From the City (Drabble)
Am so glad she's willing to offer such heartening news as she can at this point, and it's honest, at least, even if it doesn't carry all the grisly details.
Author's reply
Writing this drabble series about the last hours of the siege was quite interesting. EdorasLass and I had been planning to write a bit about Nanny's return to Minith Tirith after the war; it worked out well with the challenges at tolkien_weekly that we were able to drabble out the backstory and get the details worked out in our heads. Thanks so much for reading and commenting so devotedly! It was very exciting to see these reviews flowing in. You really made my day.
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 9: Foreign Ways
And the heart of Rohan can now be found in Ithilien as Mag allows the Princess to instruct her. And although I'm not certain I'd like kumiss, I might like the dill pasteries. (I never have been much of a drinker.)
Author's reply
I enjoy the relationship between Eowyn and Mag (everyone and Mag, actually, she's like everybody's kind but no-nonsense grandmother). I wanted to show Eowyn asserting her leadership in the household: "This is what we're going to do", and Mag, who certainly would have done it anyway, giving her that opportunity. I really should write more about Mag and Eowyn! (I really should write more, period.)
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 8: Mousery
I have one cook keeping a snake, the equivalent of a rubber boa, to keep the kitchen of the Dragon's Claw free of snakes, as he's allergic to cats. So nice to see the cats here! Heh!
Author's reply
So many things we take for granted! Like pest control. And water - we've spent many happy hours pondering the water supply system of Minas Tirith. These are very pleasant hours we spend on these worlds, though, aren't they?
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 7: Unmasked
So, a form of tequila ALSO was to be found in Gondor, eh? And in drinking it Thorongil unveiled himself! Considering how many Thorongil recognitions I've written, I LOVE this one! Very nicely done!
Author's reply
*chortle* Gondor just had it all, didn't it? Except chocolate - I can handle corn,tomatoes, coffee, tequila, but just cannot get my head around the idea of chocolate in M-e. (I have them chomping down carob instead.)Glad you liked this! I was cackling merrily to myself as I wrote it.
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 5: Where There's Life, There's Hope (and in need of vittles) (Drabble)
Yes--the sign of life chosen indeed--bread baking at dawn! And how Aragorn needed that heartening odor just then! Wonderful!
Author's reply
Bread baking is such a wonderful smell - sometimes I wonder if there's something genetic that causes us all to respond to it so. Amidst all the grief and terror and carnage of the night, it must have been a comfort (not to mention a wonderful surprise) to Aragorn when he realized what he was smelling!
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 4: End Times (Drabble)
Oh, a perfect one! Yes, singing, fair and terrible, as the Rohirrim arrive to break the siege and Gandalf returns with a saved Steward, halfling, and guard.
Author's reply
Thank you! And thank you for the MEFA nomination! I confess to a very soft spot for this story - I enjoyed the immediacy of writing it.
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 3: Constant
Ah, how perfect an exchange between Mag and Boromir; and perfect for Boromir's love for his little brother.
Author's reply
I really enjoyed showing a tender side of Boromir, and his interaction with someone who was like a mother to him (but without the formality that his adult relationship with a Miraculously Undead Finduilas would have required.) It must have been very painful for him to send Faramir off to Ithilien, after spending all those years mentoring and protecting him. Thank you for all these reviews! This is such a fun evening.
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 2: Stag and Star
S0--that's how coffee got started in Gondor, eh? Heh!
Author's reply
All right, so this was just pure silliness. But I had great fun writing it, and exploring Imrahil's character a little - besides being a gallant and intrepid warrior, he's a bit of an entrepreneur as well! And an astute partner and advisor for Mag. I still haven't figured out what happened to her considerable fortune when she passed on, though.
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 1: A Breath of Fresh Air
How lovely the idea! Finduilas indeed must have been rereshing to know, before her early death.
Author's reply
We know so little of Finduilas, really; and it can be very enjoyable to have a blank slate to work with. I'm glad you enjoyed reading this image of her as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Larner · 11 July 2007 · Chapter 0: Snakes
Aha! So THAT was the reason! A silly, childish one, perhaps; but one I can understand. I happen to love snakes, myself, but can't stand hypodermics....
Author's reply
I don't mind snakes, but I'm no fan of earwigs. Ugh. We all have our Achille's heel, don't we? Thank you for commenting!