Celeritas
· 19 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Hunters, Hunted
Eep eep eep!
I hope Elladan and Halmir find the hobbits in time!
That bit about the dead ponies was truly creepy... I'm reminded of the moment in The Hobbit where you learn that the ponies got eaten and you're left to imagine the actual carnage.
*shiver*
I see you mostly as a character writer, but really, you do the more "action" or "thriller" type things very well!
Author's reply
I know, I always felt sorry for the ponies in The Hobbit...
Thank you for the words of encouragement! I find action/thriller much more of a challenge to write, requiring more attention to detail, and lazy as I am I most often fall back on character study.
Thanks!
Larner
· 19 October 2009
· Chapter 11: Hunters, Hunted
What a horrid thing to anticipate--that the Hobbit belonging to the pony was slain there by the Nazgul!
Author's reply
Yes, nearly as horrid as finding them left to die alone and friendless upon the hilltop. Yikes.
Thanks!
Celeritas
· 21 September 2009
· Chapter 10: Watchers Leave their Post
*sneaky-action music plays*
I really liked this "behind the scenes" look at how the Nine got into the Shire and what the Rangers who watched over it did in response. Especially enjoyed the slight tension between Elladan, who clearly knows what's going on, and Halmir, who is in the dark.
Author's reply
Yes, it was interesting to imagine.
Thanks!
Larner
· 20 September 2009
· Chapter 10: Watchers Leave their Post
To hear the cry of the Nazgul, there in the Shire, knowing that Frodo Baggins is still within it somewhere, Ring in hand....
Shuddering! Wonderful!
Author's reply
Too frightening!
Dreamflower
· 20 September 2009
· Chapter 10: Watchers Leave their Post
Very exciting to see Elladan and one of the Dunedain in pursuit! I liked Elladan's answer to Halmir about their quarry:
The son of Elrond threw back his head to laugh. 'Some four, against a son of Elrond and a chief among the Dunedain? How can the outcome be in doubt?'
Indeed!
Author's reply
Indeed! Bold and brave Elladan, and if his brother were there, they could probably take on even more than four... at least I hope they could... (mental note to self: Were they around in 1974 when Glorfindel made his prophecy of the Witch King's fate? Need to go look at the Tale of Years.
Have a cold, and it's turning my brain to mush.
Thanks!
Larner
· 20 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Encounter with Shadow
Ooh--well, properly, and eerily done, although it does appear particularly Dementor weather! Heh! Poor Tolly and Ferdi! Now--the rescue of these two! Wonderful descriptions!
Author's reply
Oh, Dementor weather? Well, I hope this doesn't turn into a crossover AU...
Celeritas
· 19 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Encounter with Shadow
Eep! This was very, very well paced!
I do hope you'll continue swiftly so we don't get overly concerned about these two poor beshadowed hobbits...
Author's reply
Thank you! Will try. (Home with a sick child, so I had a little time today, as a matter of fact...)
Dreamflower
· 19 September 2009
· Chapter 9: Encounter with Shadow
Oh! Oh, poor Ferdi! The Black Breath?!?! And no healing hands of the King and no athelas? Oh no!
Author's reply
And poor Tolly, too, and no wonder he always suffered depression after summer's end, as the days grew shorter and night's shadows claimed the land a little longer each time the Sun disappeared in the West. *sigh*
Thanks!
Larner
· 29 June 2009
· Chapter 8: Of Dreams and Wakenings
Ah, Lin--how terrible a thing to think the trouble was but minor, but then learn it's even worse than anticipated! May they find good signs soon!
Author's reply
Easy enough mistake to make--it's terrible to see a loved one injured and in pain. But then the worry of not-knowing, well, it's worse. Especially when Pimpernel was half-angry with Ferdi, having convinced herself that Tolly had dragged him off to the Duck for drinks and darts...
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 28 June 2009
· Chapter 8: Of Dreams and Wakenings
Oh dear! Oh dear! That feeling of fear? What's the date?
And now Ferdi and Tolly are missing--caught by Lotho's Big Men, perhaps?
*frets*
Author's reply
Well, when Paladin and Eglantine were awake the previous night, around 10, Paladin spoke of the Birthday being "yesterday" which would make the previous day the 23d, and this chapter's setting the 24th.
According to Appendix B, the Black Riders drove the guard of Rangers from Sarn Ford on the evening of the 22nd and five of them continued to pursue the Rangers eastward through the 23d before returning to watch the Greenway. (Does this mean they pursued the main body of Rangers all the way to Bree, over the course of two days? What a chase that must have been!)
On the 23rd, four Riders entered the Shire before dawn. A Black Rider came to Hobbiton at nightfall, just before Frodo took his leave.
At about 10 p.m. on the 23rd, Paladin said,
'It's been unsettling,' Paladin said, seeming to change the subject. 'The Birthday yesterday, and no sign of Bilbo all these years – he came back after a year, that first time he went away, but it seems he really is gone for good this time...'
'...and today the lads were to set out from Bag End, and perfect weather they had for the walking – why, we cut more hay this day than I'd thought we would, but dry and fine it's been, and the Sun so strong and warm...'
None of Paladin's family slept well the night of the 23rd-24th, as you've seen.
The morning of the 24th was "pale and clammy" and "mists lay thick on the world" (as when Tolly arrived at the farm) but the day began to "turn fine and hot...after ten o'clock" (which, as Paladin observed, would be fine haying weather). In the afternoon of the 24th, Frodo & co. were nearly overtaken by a searching Black Rider. We know, thus, that Black Riders were searching for Frodo, likely spreading out from Hobbiton along the routes they thought he might have followed. Perhaps even suspecting that Frodo might be on his way to the Havens, having laid a false trail to Buckland? Hmmm.
Does that help you place the events of this chapter? Hope so. Brain is muddled from cough mixture and I need to hit the pillow now that it's taking effect. HTH!
Author Reply: Of course, Lotho's Big Men is a good guess! Wonder just when he's going to have his little chat with Paladin about who's the best suited to run the Shire?
Soledad
· 28 June 2009
· Chapter 8: Of Dreams and Wakenings
Ugh! You can't leave us hanging like this! That's an evil evil thing... I don't want Ferdi hurt, please...
Author's reply
Oh, dear, I *don't* want to leave this hanging for long. The chapter just broke at the most logical place (it was over 3500 words as it was, longer than my usual chapter length, and if I hadn't broken it there the next logical place to break would have made the chapter some 6000 or 7000 words--too long for my short attention span!). The next chapter deals with Ferdi and Tolly. Hope to get it typed in soon.
Author Reply: p.s. Thank you for the encouraging feedback! I appreciate your taking the time to leave your impressions.
Soledad
· 28 June 2009
· Chapter 7: Going about Their Business
Hmmm... this whole gathering business has apparently gone on a large scala for quite some time. If I were Paladin, I would be worried, too.
Author's reply
You're right, it's worrisome. Good thing Paladin is able to add up seemingly unrelated facts and get a clear enough picture to make some serious decisions.
Soledad
· 28 June 2009
· Chapter 6: Things that Go Bump in the Night
Tookish foresight, huh? Well, I was always wondering what made the Tooks so different from all the other Hobbits. Faerie blood sounds a mite foolish, especially as there aren't any faeries in Middle-earth (not since the Lost Tales, that is), but what was it then? Because whatever it was, it certainly worked.
Author's reply
Yes, hopefully the foresight is not just fanon. The idea, I think, comes from Frodo's dreams, doesn't it? And it was JRRT who mentioned faerie blood, I'm glad to say, so that no one can accuse fanfic writers of making it up! (LOL)
Pearl Took has an interesting take on the Tooks' faerie blood, by the way. I found her story about Esmeralda a thought-provoking read.
Soledad
· 28 June 2009
· Chapter 5: Of Endings and Beginnings
Oh, this was so lovely! Eglantine, brushing out her hair and using it as thinking time... and the love between her and Paladin. *sniff*
Author's reply
They make a lovely couple, and married so long (in harmony) they can almost think one another's thoughts.
Soledad
· 28 June 2009
· Chapter 4: In and Out
I've been terrible remiss with my reading lately - Real Life has just been too stressy. But thank God the summer holidays are here and now I have some time to visit the Shire again. ;)
I love the wordless understanding between Eglantine and Paladin, and Adelard is a wonderfully quirky character. Now Paladin will have his hands full to keep Lotho Pimple and his minions out of Tookland. But I'm sure he will manage.
Author's reply
I know how Real Life can go... so glad you have some time to visit!
Thanks for hitting the highlights!
Garnet Took
· 28 June 2009
· Chapter 8: Of Dreams and Wakenings
So excited to see an update to this.
Now I'm worried for poor Ferdi and Tolli. I also am finding it fascinating that Pervinca seems to be the one with the Sight. I can't wait to see just where all this is going.:)
Hope to see an update real soon.
Author's reply
Am working on the next chapter, so we'll see how soon I can get it polished and ready to go.
Pervinca (in my stories) has always been moody and mercurial, and it occurred to me that this would be a perfect fit for her to have inherited the gift (or curse) of prescient dreams.
Thanks for the encouraging word!
Celeritas
· 22 February 2009
· Chapter 7: Going about Their Business
What is there to the south, I'd like to know!
Such a hobbity question, even for Tooks! I like the way the separate harbingers of trouble are coming together, slowly--though I'm rather anxious to see the trouble itself, and what Paladin & family will do!
Author's reply
Working on it!
(Too bad JRRT didn't say exactly *when* the Tooks started shooting (at) ruffians. I know things got really bad after Yule, when the ruffians closed down the inns, but constructing the sequence of events has been interesting. It sounds as if Paladin & Co. retreated to the Great Smials at some point, just from what someone said in conversation in "The Scouring of the Shire". Got any thoughts on the matter?)
The next bit has been a little tricky to work out, but with help from Dreamflower and Larner I'm getting it together and hopefully it'll fit with canon and seem plausible.
Thanks!
Garnet Took
· 17 February 2009
· Chapter 7: Going about Their Business
I read this this morning right before work and didn't get to leave a comment at that time, so I'm back to say something.:)
I am loving this story. You are being so subtle about the changes that are happening around the Tooks. I am sure that that is just how it happened. Things changed so slowly that few people noticed at first, and by the time they did, it was too late.
I love your Paladin in this. I love your other one for different reasons, but this one is obviously happy and well grounded in what he loves--his family and his farm.
Hope updates come faster now that the muse seems to have broken her silence.:)
Author's reply
Thanks for the good words! I was aiming at subtlety but not sure if I was pulling it off. Still, I think it must have been something like the frog-in-boiling-water phenomenon.
"This" Paladin is fun to write! LOL.
I hope that she keeps whispering, too. Whew.
Dreamflower
· 17 February 2009
· Chapter 7: Going about Their Business
A nice glimpse of lightness in the gathering gloom.
I love young "wild" Tolly! That's so cute. But the news from the Southfarthing is more ominous than it appears.
Author's reply
Gathering gloom indeed. And Paladin doesn't know the half of it... yet.
I had no idea that Tolly was anything but the staid, steady hobbit he'd been up until Runaway, but Jodancingtree as co-author had a broad scope and gave him a background, nicely fleshing out his character! What fun! I learned so much about writing and characterization from her...
Larner
· 16 February 2009
· Chapter 7: Going about Their Business
Let's not let the worry of the night destroy our ability to live the day. And now to see what is encountered, out on the way to or from the marshes....
Nice to see another chapter up!
Author's reply
Thanks again for your help! It was much easier to write the set-up, when I had a clearer idea of where I was going.
Ooo. *shivers*
Elena Tiriel
· 9 November 2008
· Chapter 6: Things that Go Bump in the Night
Hi Lindelea,
Well, I'm shivering, and it's only 4 pm here. Still broad daylight. Cloudy, but not that cold - almost 60 degrees Fahrenheit. And I'm shivering.
Must have been the ice cream I just ate. Yeah, that must be it.
Couldn't possibly have been because of a story about nice cute fuzzy happy hobbits. Nah, couldn't have been that.
No way.
Nope.
But I keep shivering.....
Lindelea, your characters are three-dimensional and interesting, and the way you describe, for example, Eglantine waking up alone really drew me into the story.... And the subtle ways she tried to draw Paladin out seemed just right for a long-familiar married couple.
Very nicely done, Lindelea!
- Barbara, who shouldn't be shivering... I'm in sunny California!
Author's reply
Very shivery. Need to turn on the heat. We had a warm front come through a day or two ago, but now a cold front is coming through and the temps have dropped. Perhaps that's why I'm shivery.
Need a cup of hot cider, that's the ticket.
Thank you!
Larner
· 9 November 2008
· Chapter 6: Things that Go Bump in the Night
Blasted site dropped me again! Gads!
A wonderful, shivery chapter as we see Eglantine this time not denying the dream, but instead seeking to learn more from her husband's gift of the Took Sight. And was that the dying cry of a rodent or the more potent ululation of a Nazgul heard from a great distance?
So good to see this continuing!
Author's reply
Hate it when that happens.
Y'know, I'm not sure what exactly she heard, Might have been either. After all, four Black Riders crossed into the Shire, and one of them wasn't that far away (only about 14 miles across the fields) just a few hours earlier.
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 9 November 2008
· Chapter 6: Things that Go Bump in the Night
This, this is most excellent and subtle. Of course the Thain of the Shire would sense the approach of evil into his domain, whether he knows what it truly signifies or not.
I loved the beginning part, with Eglantine and just the tick of the clock for her company. I can so identify with that uneasy feeling waking up to a silent house, unable to sleep...
Only a week until the cry is raised...
Author's reply
I know, I was looking at the Tale of Years today and was struck by the fact that Crickhollow wasn't attacked as soon as I thought it had been. A whole week after the Departure!
I think Paladin truly expected Bilbo to come back on the day the S.B.s were to take possession of Bag End. I think he was congratulating Frodo, privately in his mind, on hitting on the right method (finally!) to bring the old hobbit to his senses and back to the Shire. After all, it worked that way, to Paladin's thinking, once before... It's part of what he was telling Eglantine, while her mind was elsewhere, and I don't know if it's going to come out again later, or not.
Yep, that waking feeling, and listening... of course, at our house it's often punctuated by a whuffly nose a few moments later, softly whuffling in my ear to let me know the Giant Schnoz is looking for reassurance, perhaps after a bad dream of her own.
Thanks!
cathleen
· 9 November 2008
· Chapter 6: Things that Go Bump in the Night
Oh, Lindelea, I'm so glad to see a new chapter of this story! I love what you're doing with it, and the ominous tone its taken on here, as well as the way you're writing Paladin and Eglantine.
I can't wait to read more!
Author's reply
Thanks. Let's hope the Muse agrees!
Celeritas
· 9 November 2008
· Chapter 6: Things that Go Bump in the Night
I do hope Eglantine learns about the dream, and not just so I'll know what it was!
All is not right, clearly, and for a while it's only going to get worse...
I did have to say how much I admire that you're using this fic to take a look at a different Shire from the one you've posited in your other stories. It takes ridiculous amounts of guts and not a little humility to do that!
Author's reply
Hmmm. I think the dream will come out, though not necessarily all at once.
Thanks for the good words!