Teresa
· 20 December 2010
· Chapter 22: Spirits Lifted
Trust Pippin to realize that Frodo and the others needed something to lift their spirits! His gift of sharing joy was just as important to the quest of the knowledge and skills of the others....... no better group could have been chosen to deal with the Ring! Many thanks! :)
Author's reply
They truly needed Pippin along, for he has the gift of seeing when others need a moment of laughter and can bring them to it with such skill. Yes--each was needed for the gift he brings to the Fellowship. Thanks to you, Teresa!
Dreamflower
· 30 November 2010
· Chapter 21: Thoughts of Thanksgiving
Thank you for drawing my attention to this, dear! I thought I had commented on it at the GFIC group, but apparently not! I sometimes find it hard to remember where I did what!
This is just beautiful, and just the sort of conversation I can imagine Gandalf and Bilbo having before Bilbo leaves. And I thank you so much for all your wonderful stories, that have given me so many pleasurable hours!
Author's reply
No, you hadn't yet, so I wasn't certain that you'd seen it, and I wanted so to thank you, Cathleen, and Linda for your ecards, and Lindelea for her long friendship.
Yes, just the sort of conversation Gandalf and Bilbo would be likely to have at that momentous time. And thank you for all the tales you have gifted us all with as well!
Andrea
· 26 November 2010
· Chapter 21: Thoughts of Thanksgiving
[...] and wondered what the Hobbit might accomplish one day that would win him such thanks from what was plainly a gathering of predominately Men.
Very interesting! So Gandalf was granted a first glimpse of Frodo's future just before the famous Birthday Party. I wonder how long it took him to understand fully what he saw there.
I liked it very much what Bilbo said about Frodo. And I'm quite sure that Frodo has the same feelings about Bilbo.
Author's reply
I suspect that often Gandalf had inklings of what might happen to individuals he'd come to love and honor. It was pleasant imagining one such time. How his imprecise glimpses of the future must have intrigued and possibly maddened him at times! And I'm certain that Frodo and Gandalf felt much the same of one another!
Thank you so, Andrea.
Antane
· 26 November 2010
· Chapter 21: Thoughts of Thanksgiving
Love it, love it, love it. :) Especially this - “He will be loved by more than you dream, Bilbo. All will be grateful for him one day.” Indeed, down to this age. What lovely and loving words Bilbo says to his friend about his beloved heir. And thank *you* Larner for bringing this wonderful tale to us. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and thanks for your support as my loyalest reviewer! :) I won't be reading during Advent so see you on the other side!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Bless you as well, Antane. Yes, all in the end have been grateful that Frodo Baggins and his beloved kinsmen were born within the Shire and given for the delight of us all.
Armariel
· 26 November 2010
· Chapter 21: Thoughts of Thanksgiving
An endearing vignette, and so "you."
Hope your thanksgiving was a joyful one Larner.
~~~~~{~@
Author's reply
Why, thank you so, Armariel! Thanksgiving was fine, thanks very much. Had dinner with my clients and enjoyed it muchly, as a former roommate might say.
shirebound
· 25 November 2010
· Chapter 21: Thoughts of Thanksgiving
those who count — they should be able to see him as he is
Indeed so. This is a very lovely and thoughtful Thanksgiving story.
Author's reply
Indeed, indeed, Shirebound. Thanks so.
Teresa
· 25 November 2010
· Chapter 21: Thoughts of Thanksgiving
Thank you for this lovely vignette! It was perfect, showing the strong connection between Bilbo and Gandalf, and the love Bilbo had for Frodo and the Shire! The Ring might have shadowed Bilbo and Frodo, but the bonds they had with each other and their friends, family, and the Shire itself kept that posion at bay. And that hint of forsight Gandalf had was fantastic! As always your writing gives me deeper appriciation for Middle Earth and its people! Happy Thanksgiving! :)
Author's reply
Author Reply: Sorry about that! Thank you so much--I am so glad that my writing seems to add to your enjoyment of Middle Earth and its inhabitants. If only more Hobbits appreciated what Frodo had done for them, however.
Linda Hoyland
· 13 October 2010
· Chapter 19: The Witch-king's Battle of the Ford
How the Ring Wraiths underestimated Frodo and his companions. A great story!I bet you could write a super story for this month's Teitho as you can make the villain's interesting,which I cannot.
Author's reply
Thanks so, Linda. Haven't ever followed the Teitho competitions, and don't know where to find them--but then I have so many challenges I've not written to as yet in the communities I DO subscribe to so far! Heh! But thanks so for the compliment. The Witch-king's POV seemed the best response to the challenge of remixing Periantri's story.
Andrea
· 12 October 2010
· Chapter 20: November 3, 1425 S.R.
Yes, he grieved for Saruman! He even gave him a last chance to go and change his life.
Saruman did not understand him. Or did he? Maybe it was just at that moment that the Wizard realised himself how far he had fallen.
Great addition! Thank you for posting.
Author's reply
I've often found myself picturing that final moment, and wondering what Saruman thought just then, and what made him goad Grima to kill him.
Thanks so, Andrea.
Antane
· 12 October 2010
· Chapter 20: November 3, 1425 S.R.
Indeed he would have grieved for them all, such a heart as he had, which is one of the myriad reasons he is so special.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Frodo himself had been granted great mercy; I cannot imagine him denying mercy and the chance for redemption to any other as long as it was within his authority to grant it.
Thanks so, Antane.
Tari
· 12 October 2010
· Chapter 19: The Witch-king's Battle of the Ford
Wow!!! This an amazing read. I never considered what thoughts might have gone through the Witch King's mind at the Ford. Certainly dismay at the realization that he would not capture the ring, much less the ring bearer.
Author's reply
It had to be a shock to find nature itself turning on himself and his fellows at the moment. Thanks so, Tari!
Lindelea
· 12 October 2010
· Chapter 20: November 3, 1425 S.R.
Well done! I can just see this happening.
How they all must miss Frodo.
Author's reply
Amen, Lin. And I am certain you are right.
Lynn H
· 11 October 2010
· Chapter 19: The Witch-king's Battle of the Ford
Water, Earth, Fire, and Air - and Love, though I doubt a ringwraith would recognize that one. Impressive viewpoint!
Author's reply
I am certain that the wraiths had long forgotten the power of Love at that moment. Thank you so, Lynn.
eiluj
· 11 October 2010
· Chapter 20: November 3, 1425 S.R.
So many reasons to miss Frodo....
Psst: Probably 1425?
Author's reply
Oh, yes, so true, Julie. And thanks so for the correction. Gads, I keep making major booboos! Aaack! Corrected now on all fronts.
Antane
· 9 October 2010
· Chapter 19: The Witch-king's Battle of the Ford
I love the defiance of Frodo at the Ford! I hope one day someone will make a film that is actually true to the books, even though this is still a great scene in the movie also, with Arwen's words in the film and her prayer over Frodo as he is dying. Indeed the Witch-king must wonder at the grace that kept the Ring-bearer safe so long. Tom Shippey had interesting remarks about this, citing how much the resistance of Frodo's will to the shard kept it from operating as well and as quickly as it would have otherwise.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I, too, would have liked to have seen this a bit more true to the book, but understand how they felt they needed to up the angst for the film. Am so glad you appreciated how this came out.
Periantari
· 3 October 2010
· Chapter 19: The Witch-king's Battle of the Ford
awesome retelling of my Bruinen Ford ficlet! I really appreciated your point of view very much from the Witch-king's point of view! I really liked your interpretation of what the Witch-king may be thinking. You coincided the timing really well with book-verse. Taking on the Witch-king's point of view must've been challenging and i applaud you for doing that.
I've always admired Frodo's strength in that scene and always enjoy any retelling of it.
Loved this bit:
And his face—he is almost as an Elf lord in his glory, even as the shard seeks to move that last small distance to enter his heart.
how chilling to know that the shard indeed was piercing further and further in.
As usual, your writing was right on. :) Amazing job! Bravo!!! Thank you so much!
Author's reply
I'm so glad you appreciate it, Periantari! It's always interesting to look at a familiar event from someone else's point of view, and that of the Witch-king appeared to be the one that few others have investigated, or not that I'm aware of. I'm glad remixing your writing gave me the chance to do so, particularly as it is the antithesis to that of your POV character in Frodo. And who better to admire for his strength in that scene?
Thank you so!
Elena Tiriel
· 3 October 2010
· Chapter 19: The Witch-king's Battle of the Ford
Oh, Larner!
This is so tense... they came soooo close to turning Frodo into a wraith like them!
Well and chillingly done!
- Barbara, sweating.....
Author's reply
Oh, it's wonderful to find others feel I've managed to convey the tension properly! Wonderful! Thank you!
harrowcat
· 3 October 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
Am catching up with SOA on a rare free evening. Loved this. Have been set up like this myself! Six year olds can ask the most profound questions!
Author's reply
As indeed they can, Harrowcat! Heh! Have been set up a time or two by my own or by former students. Joy to you!
Tari
· 1 October 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
Looks like Frodo got himself into a real pickle this time. Even my head was spinning as I read Pippin's account of Hobbits multipilication. (LOL) It will be interesting to see how he gets out of this mess.
Author's reply
Oh, this one was very fun to write. And if anyone would begin to appreciate the discrepancy between the different means of "multiplying," I think it would be our Frodo! Heh! Now--to explain to a small Took, who might be precocious but still is a child! Heh!
Armariel
· 25 September 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
Uh oh......somebody needs a lesson about the birds and the bees, methinks....heheh!
~~~~~{~@
Author's reply
I suspect that as one who has grown up on a farm Pippin already begins to appreciate the process of procreation, but the language used to describe that process is something else. Heh! Thanks, Armariel.
Linda Hoyland
· 23 September 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
Just delightful! Frodo is a fine teacher.
Author's reply
Yes, a fine teacher indeed, Linda. Glad it pleases you! Heh!
Andrea
· 22 September 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
LOL! That was great!
Poor Frodo has a lot of explaining to do now.
I also found it very funny that it was no other than Merry who caused Pippin's confusion - although he's quite innocent this time (which is a novelty) ;-)
Author's reply
Yes, Frodo has some explaining to do, and all about how we use language in different ways at different times. But if anyone can do it, I think Frodo can.
As for the question of Merry's relative innocence--I'm not certain we cah be totally sure he didn't enjoy emphasizing the word "multiply" here so as to purposely mess with his younger cousin's thinking about the word and the processes involved. Heh! But, then again, he might be innocent indeed.
6336
· 22 September 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
This should come with a humor alert!
This reminds me about the one with the snakes, after Noah told the animals in the Arc to go forth and mutiply, after a while he noticed that some of the snakes wern't so he asked them what the problem was, "But Noah we're Adders, we can't multiply!" Noah's answer was to use log tables. Yes, I know it's so old it's got gray hairs on it, from my school days many centuries ago!
Lynda
Author's reply
Am so glad it gave you a good laugh, Lynda.
And I'd completely forgotten about that old joke. Thanks so for reminding me of it! Here we appear to have only two species of snakes--garter snakes and another, larger species that is very shy and rarely seen, neither of whom are poisonous to my knowledge--or at least not toward humans or larger mammals. Now, east of the mountains there are rattlesnakes, and they are definitely to be avoided if at all possible. I'd almost enjoy seeing an adder, myself, just to know what they look like.
Teresa
· 22 September 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
Chuckle.....it seems Frodo has more than one matter to explain! As always, many thanks for your glimpse into Middle Earth! :)
Author's reply
Oh, yes--such moments of having to work on multiple matters are fairly common for those of us given to teaching, or so I've found. Glad you appreciated the story, and I'm always game to poke about within the parameters of Middle Earth, I find.
Thanks, Teresa.
Rhyselle
· 22 September 2010
· Chapter 18: To Be Fruitful and Multiply
I nearly did a spit-take on the computer screen once I realized what the problem really was! LOL! Very funny!
Bad Paladin for fobbing this particular lesson off on Frodo!
Thanks for brightening my day!
Author's reply
Oh, it was fun to write this one, I found. Am so glad it evoked a few good laughs! Thanks so, Rhyselle!