Celeritas
· 8 November 2008
· Chapter 2: 'Flour' is not just for Gardens
Another amazing chapter! I loved Farlibar's long varied forms of invective against the two miscreants (boot-loving Bucklander indeed!) as well as his initial punishment--chopping up onion with a teaspoon! The limericks were nicely in order as well, as well as his dithering between the need for respect for two gentlehobbits and righteous anger!
And then Merry and Pippin half-turning on one another (Merry's reaction at realizing Pippin had had a knife with him all along was particularly priceless).
Please to put a drink warning on this--if I had been having my tea right now it would currently be all over the keyboard!
Quite possibly even funnier than the last.
At this rate I don't think you need any encouraging to write more, but in case you do I'll put in my request anyway.
Author's reply
Hello Celeritas!
My goodness, what a fabulous review! Muchas gracias!! (My Spanish is non-existent).
It was very gratefully received too; I was beginning to think the second chapter hadn't gone down as well as the first because there were no reviews (although, I'm not the most patient of people, which is why I update so often. I hate having to wait too long for the next chapter of a story myself, so I always imagine that's how others feel and post as quickly as I can to assuage my guilt).
I can't tell you how much fun it was writing this chapter (so much that I stayed up 'til three in the morning finishing it) and thinking of the most offensive hobbity insults I could.
Your comment about the drink warning was possibly one of the nicest remarks anyone has ever made on any of my fics! Writing this chapter, I could practically hear the three of them hurling curses at each other, so if it had such an effect on you I'm delighted! (Not that I want you choking on your tea...)
Thanks for the vote of confidence on Chapter 3. I've an idea what I may put in
it and there may be an appearance by Faramir (Snr) and/or Eowyn.
Don't forget: Monday's up soon. I'm eagerly anticipating it. I want to see if Kira meets any real, live Dwarves (squeals in anticipation of a Dwarvish visit!).
Thank you so much again for the lovely, lovely review!
Maureen :)
Linda Hoyland
· 6 November 2008
· Chapter 1: A not so Merry (and Pippin) Encounter
This is just delightful I loved it!I kept smiling at poor Falibar's attempts to address Aragorn.Naughty Merry and Pippin! They have a fitting punishment.
You might enjoy my mushroom story about them on this site"A Dainty Dish",though it is very different to yours,but still about their love of mushrooms.
Author's reply
Hello again Linda!
(I just sent off a reply to your other review a few minutes ago, so it feels like we've just spoken).
I'm really thrilled you enjoyed this so much. Hobbits and mushrooms - cna't go far wrong with that! I'm going to get started on chapter 2 so that will be up later today or tomorrow (once I know what I'm writing).
And I'll be heading off to read your own hobbity mushroom fic just as soon as I can - I'm looking forward to it!!
Thanks again for dropping a note, you're a wee star!
Maureen :)
Andrea
· 6 November 2008
· Chapter 1: A not so Merry (and Pippin) Encounter
It's true, Merry and Pippin don't behave like Master and Thain here, but I think you're right when you call it a "hobbity midlife crisis".
Merry and Pippin will always be Merry and Pippin, regardless how old they are :)
But poor Farlibar! He was so scared and feared for his life. So Aragorn was right two punish those two.
I'm looking forward to reading more!
P.S.: Vielen Dank für die nette deutsche Antwort auf mein Review! Dein Deutsch ist wirklich nicht schlecht. Und wenn du es ein wenig aufpolierst (polishing in English), ist es perfekt!
Do not think that I know everything about the English language, for I'm always struggling with prepositions. So, it's mere luck when I use the right ones ;-)
Author's reply
Hello Andrea,
Oh but I am so glad you enjoyed this! Merry & Pippin really are a couple of scamps and when they're together, it's 'double trouble!'
Farlbar is an innocent wee soul in regards to the ways of the outside world. He doesn't know how outsiders go about there businesa so for him it's perfectly natural to envisage a worst case scenario at an imagined slight! The Thain and Master were very naughty to my wee friend!
Und es freut mich daß mein deutsch dir etwas freude gebracht hat!
Maureen :)
P.S. - I have always wondered what the word for 'polished' was (I thought it was something completely different), and now I know for definite - Thank you!!
Larner
· 6 November 2008
· Chapter 1: A not so Merry (and Pippin) Encounter
Serves the two of them right! Oh, but this was wonderfully done! Hilarious! Poor Farlibar--having to put up with the pranks of a Brandybuck and a Took! And love Aragorn's justice! PERFECT!
Author's reply
Hello Larner!
Thanks for the lovely review. Yes, poor Farlibar indeed. Merry & Pippin will never grow up when there's such a gullible target to be had.
But thankfully Strider's there to keep them in check when Sam's not and Farlibar will make them pay for their impudence...
I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Chapter 2 comming (hopefully) soon.
Maureen :)
Celeritas
· 5 November 2008
· Chapter 1: A not so Merry (and Pippin) Encounter
Excellent!
I loved getting everything from Farlibar's point of view--who was stuffed full of cooking aphorisms and the native wit one expects from provincial hobbit types. "Half-cooked sausage!" was particularly amusing; I also enjoyed What on earth had the Mayor done that a King from a foreign land would come all the way down here just to bow at him? and the line of reasoning that answered that question!
Really, though, Merry and Pippin are a bit old to be putting one over such a well-intentioned fellow, though I'm sure the mushrooms would have been worth it. I'm exceedingly glad the King caught them and am looking forward to their comeuppance!
Author's reply
Hello Celeritas,
how great to hear from you!
Your quite right, those two are more than old enough to cease behaving in such a ridiculous manner! But they told me they were so caught up in the moment of seeing another Fellowship member that all good reason fled them and they started acted as if they were back in Minas Tirith (as was). Personally, I think they're having a hobbity mid-life crisis, but what can I do? I can't tell them that! You know how sensitive males (of any species) are.
Anyway, poor Farlibar may as well have a target sign painted on him, he's so gullible! Teasing him is far too tempting to resist for even the Thain (and especially the Master of Buckland, given their history).
I'm really delighted you enjoyed hearing the story from his perspective though. It was fun to imagine what a complete stranger may make of their shenanigans, but even more fun to explore the character of my very own OC. Never thought I'd enjoy such a thing, having only ever seen OC's (in my works) as necessary evils, but Farlibar quite endeared hinself to me and everyone liked his name so I thought it only fair to give him his 15 minutes!
Thanks for the lovely review!
Maureen :)
Dreamflower
· 5 November 2008
· Chapter 1: A not so Merry (and Pippin) Encounter
*snerk* This was just delightful! I really loved all of Farli's oh-so-very-hobbity ruminations!
And dear me! The Master and the Thain let their sense of humor run away with them, eh? I love Merry prodding Pippin, when the latter allows his true admiration for Farli's cooking to slip through! I look forward to seeing what else Farli has "cooked up" (pun intdended!) and to see just how he gets back at those two.
What fun! I think you did quite well with the humor!
Author's reply
Hello Dreamflower!
how lovely to hear from you. I am glad this amused you as I was a tad nervous about it.
Actually I've been kicking myself for weeks wondering what in the name of the wee man possessed me to leave the incident in the cook's tent hanging like that in Chapter 13. It meant I was going to have to think of something for a oneshot which I've been trying to do now for the past 5 weeks to no avail.
A couple of days ago I just thought 'stuff it' then picked up a pencil and wrote the first piece of sillines that came to mind. I would have finished yeasterday it but I've been caught up watching the US elections on the BBC so here it is now, slighty later than planned.
And not a bloomin' oneshot after all (as I'd planned), so now I'll still need to come up with something to explain the flour (gnashes teeth in a slightly irked manner).
C'est la vie!
Thanks for the lovely review though. You make me smile, as always!
Maureen :)