Baggins Babe
· 1 September 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
Ah yes, those of us who lose our hearts to hobbits know just how Gandalf feels!
I'm sure Olorin was most attached to his Gandalf persona - like his 'sister' he had lived in that bodily guise and experienced many things. It was only natural that he was more Gandalf than anyone else.
Author's reply
He had become Gandalf, I think, over those years of wandering. And even after his death and rebirth, he still remained his old irrascible self.
And as long as he has Frodo and Bilbo to look after, he's not going to abandon them.
Antane
· 26 August 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
Love it and the title. The world is so much richer because there are hobbits in it!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
It absolutely is.
GamgeeFest
· 25 August 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
Thank goodness Gandalf at least remembered that hobbits were important in some way! Things with the Ring could have gone much worse - though Mirime couldn't have known any of that at the time, of course. I enjoyed Gandalf's reflections here and his memory of his first hobbit-sighting, such as it was. Of course, he was instantly lost to their charms. Only a truly heartless person would be unmoved by them.
Author's reply
I kind of see it as his memories being clouded by the Valar, accessible only as needed, and usually his knowledge came to him in the form of feelings and intuitions.
Only a truly heartless person would be unmoved by them.
Certainly no one with as large a heart as Gandalf had could be unmoved.
Andrea
· 25 August 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
His own heart had been lost then and there.
That's how it always goes with hobbits :)
And I found it quite fitting that Olorin retained his "Gandalf form" (for me he's always Gandalf). Maybe the reason for him is the same as for Mirime: While being Gandalf he felt truely alive, with all the advantages and disadvantages that accompany life.
And the greatest advantage of them all was that he came to know and love hobbits!!!
Author's reply
I think that is a good deal of the reason; also, participating in a physical life brings an attachment to a physical life-- and as you said, with all the advantages and disadvantages.
Yes, he counts his friendship with hobbits as one of the greatest joys of his life in Middle-earth. He's definitely not ready to let go of that delight.
Garnet Took
· 25 August 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
Lovely, as usual. I am loving this story. The only frustration is that the chapters by necessity have to be so short. Part of my wants a deeper look in Mirime and her dual life.
Author's reply
They do have to be short-- but it is enabling me to update a bit more frequently!
There will be more, trust me!
Virtuella
· 24 August 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
I really like how you describe Gandalf's "attachment" to his body!
And yes, one probably needs to know hobbits personally to quite appreciate them. ;-)
Author's reply
It's part of what Tolkien himself said at one point: that a Maia who spent much time in a form, taking part in the physical parts of life, such as eating and sleeping and so forth tied that apirit more closely to that body.
And hobbits are pretty potent! Who can resist them?
Larner
· 24 August 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
I meant the right title for the chapter! Gads! Have been spending too much time arguing my other current passion, I fear! Heh!
And he understands Mirime so well now!
Author's reply
*grin* I have to confess that your review puzzled me. Now I understand!
Yes, he does understand how easy it is to fall under the spell of that very special race of people.
Larner
· 24 August 2009
· Chapter 8: Where Mercy, Love and Pity Dwell
Definitely the right name for the three of them! Yes!
Kitty
· 19 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
Now I feel really sorry for Mirimë. It's true, she'll be separated from her beloved Tûk for so many long ages, and it's obvious that she loved him dearly. I really hope the time with Bilbo and Frodo will bring her healing, at least to a certain extent, and that it will not be too hard on her when these two one day have to leave, too.
Author's reply
It probably will be hard for her, but hard as it might be to lose these "children", it could not compare to the breaking of her bond with her husband.
Grey Wonderer
· 9 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
You could feel her sadness and her relief all in one in this part. Very well done!
Author's reply
Thank you. That's just what I wanted to show-- she's been grieving, but having to keep her love and her grief a secret was a burden. Now she can acknowledge it and move on.
Grey Wonderer
· 9 August 2009
· Chapter 6: Chip the Glasses and Smash the Plates!
I'm with Frodo. I have trouble waiting. LOL I like Bilbo as the prankster here.
Author's reply
Bilbo has always had a wicked sense of humor (remember the gifts after the Party?) and now Frodo's the only hobbit left for him to tease!
Grey Wonderer
· 9 August 2009
· Chapter 5: The Wizard's Confession, part 2
The number of children almost makes me wonder what might have happened if one such as herself had run into Sam Gamgee. hehehe
Author's reply
*chuckle*
Well, Gerontius had twelve! WIth hobbits it seems as if it was feast or famine when it came to having kids!
Antane
· 8 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
Very interesting chapter! Love it.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you! : )
Baggins Babe
· 8 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
Mirimë must have been grief-stricken at the thought of the long sundering from her Tuk. It may only have been 70+ years but she had form, loved, bore children and Adamanta would have been the form which she was most comfortable with.
I'm looking forward to more, Dreamflower.
Author's reply
Absolutely right!
And more is there now! *grin*
GamgeeFest
· 6 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
How sad that her brief time on earth, living as mortal, damaged her so much for all these countless years. I'm glad she's finding some relief in being able to share that with Frodo and Bilbo... but worry what when happen when they meet their eventual fate.
Author's reply
Tolkien said that for a Maia to spend time in a mortal form, and to live a physical life, could somewhat bind them to that form-- especially if marriage and children were involved. So Mirime was tightly bound to her hobbit form, but having to hide it. It was hard on her.
I'm sure she will grieve for them as her "children"; but the bond will not be the same as with a husband.
Virtuella
· 6 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
"Not only that, but she had poured much of her own being into her life as Adamanta, fully participating in love and the bearing of children, and even into appearing to age alongside her husband, something JRRT said would ultimately tie her closely to a physical form."
Yes, of course. Also, only in a physical form would she have a sensory experience of the world.
Author's reply
Very true indeed!
Andrea
· 6 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
It seems that Mirime only really felt alive when she was Adamanta. Only her years with Tuk did really count.
I'd say that in meeting Bilbo and Frodo, who looked so much like Tuk, she realised that her beloved is not dead, but lives on in many hobbits of the Shire, who are his descendants and hers.
But that's only my interpretation. I'm looking forward to reading yours!
Author's reply
"It seems that Mirime only really felt alive when she was Adamanta. Only her years with Tuk did really count."
Very much so. And yes, she did come to realize that she and Tuk lived on in their many-time-great children!
It's a very good interpretation, and I quite agree with it, though there is a little more to it: having borne children in that form, it became truly her most natural self.
Larner
· 6 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
A most important point in her existence and her labors within Arda, and she's been forbidden to reveal it to others until now? Yet she lived and loved and bore at least a child in that form! Of course being allowed to show herself as Adamanta is freeing! Yes!
Author's reply
And the bearing of children tied her intimately to her Adamanta-self! But hobbits were Eru's "secret weapon", and until their purpose was fulfilled their importance needed to be downplayed-- something that would have been difficult had it known that many of them carried Maia blood.
Being able to once more take on her form as Adamanta was like putting off wearing mourning. Hence the title.
Virtuella
· 6 August 2009
· Chapter 7: Putting Off the Widow's Weeds
"that brief span, lived among mortals, had somehow come to be the most important part of her existence"
Yes, I can see how. A mortal life, however short, would seem so much more relevant than endless years of much-of-the-same, don't you think?
Author's reply
Absolutely! Not only that, but she had poured much of her own being into her life as Adamanta, fully participating in love and the bearing of children, and even into appearing to age alongside her husband, something JRRT said would ultimately tie her closely to a physical form.
Kitty
· 4 August 2009
· Chapter 6: Chip the Glasses and Smash the Plates!
*lol* Naughty Bilbo! To give poor Frodo such a shock!
But I agree - there has to be much more to the story, and I look forward to it.
Author's reply
*grin* Since to all intents and purposes, Bilbo never had seemed to give the fairer sex much thought, it probably totally shocked Frodo to even imagine it.
There will soon be more.
Kitty
· 4 August 2009
· Chapter 5: The Wizard's Confession, part 2
Oh yes, Mirimë would want to get news of her descendants from Olórin! I am sure in the end she was delighted to learn what a huge part the Hobbits have played in the downfall of Sauron.
Author's reply
I'm sure she would ask him all kinds of questions! And I know she must have been delighted to see that hobbits had played their role in the fate of Arda to perfection.
Celeritas
· 2 August 2009
· Chapter 6: Chip the Glasses and Smash the Plates!
For the record (because I read other people's reviews) any variations on fur-pulling among hobbits ultimately stem from Tolkien himself!--in Return of the Shadow, among the first "Long-Expected Party" drafts, in which some of the populus doubts exactly what Bilbo claims he is up to (it's been a while, but I think it's around the same time that Tolkien explained some very odd marriage customs!). So unless Gamgeefest came up with the phrase out of the brilliance of her own mind, it's probably an adaptation of that original quote. I love hobbit idiom so.
And this is quite amusing! I still love the contrast between Frodo's and Bilbo's reactions--poor Frodo, who won't be satisfied until he's gotten an explanation in full, while Bilbo is comfortable enough to make smart remarks (and how very like him!).
Thank you for this humorous installment!
Author's reply
Hmm...your statement sent me looking for the quote. I could see that it might be the sort of phrase that might stick without anyone realizing where it had come from (although, honestly, I don't think GamgeeFest has ever read RotS, I could be wrong). Went through the first chapter a few times and failed to spot it. Perhaps it was in one of the later versions...
But goodness yes, "odd marriage customs"! I'd forgot all that part about how hobbits kept their potential wives or husbands a secret until it was time to actually get married--LOL! I'm glad he dropped that notion. It would have made a lot of logistical problems, let me tell you! But wouldn't it be fun to read a version of the Shire that made use of that? I'm not sure I could do it-- there are far too many complications involved, but it would be fun to see someone else do it!
I've always imagined Bilbo as having a rather Puckish sense of humor--the whole birthday chapter rather bears that out. Frodo's somewhat more practical and, dare we say slightly obsessive, Brandybuck side is showing itself right now I think-- he wants the whys and wherefores answered!
SurgicalSteel
· 1 August 2009
· Chapter 6: Chip the Glasses and Smash the Plates!
Looking forward to seeing more of this!
Author's reply
Thank you! It won't be long!
Virtuella
· 1 August 2009
· Chapter 6: Chip the Glasses and Smash the Plates!
"Pulling your foothair" - good hobbity expression for taking the mickey! Good for Bilbo that he can pull off a joke still.
Author's reply
It's not original from me. I believe GamgeeFest used it first, but I really loved it, and so adopted it!
Bilbo can probably pull one off even more easily now than ever, as no one would expect it of him at his age, LOL!
Larner
· 31 July 2009
· Chapter 6: Chip the Glasses and Smash the Plates!
And bless the roguish old Hobbit! Heh! Poor Frodo--but he needs to lighten up some. And love the twit about the family heirlooms! Yes, Bilbo is still Bilbo--more so than ever! Heh!
Author's reply
*grin* Yes, he definitely still is Bilbo, and he definitely was being a bit of a rascal there-- quite Tookish, in fact!