KathyG · 12 September 2014 · Chapter 17: Better to Give Than to Receive
Hey, Dreamflower, you should start a "Dear Dora" column! =)
If It's Trewsday It Must Be Buckland... by Dreamflower
Reviews (157)
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 31: Stupid Is As Stupid Does
Dear Miss Dora, I do hope that you were Quite Recovered from this Shock before Too Long! It seems that Lotho S-B is Not At All a Gentlehobbit, Whatever his Lineage may Amount To! I am Dreadfully Sorry to Hear that You Were Accosted so! Sincerely, Kaylee Arafinwiel (Dreamflower, I feel so very sorry for Miss Dora! But not at all sorry for Lotho...now, it's past midnight, and I've worn myself out a bit from laughing. And probably worn out your inbox! So I think I shall try to go to bed, and tackle the other stories later! Heh! Hope you're sleeping well! Kaylee)
Author's reply
My Dear Miss Kaylee I am afraid that my Unfortunate Cousin Lotho never Lived Up to the Standards of a Baggins! Cousin Longo made that Unfortunate Marriage in the Southfarthing and then Cousin Otho simply Compounded that Error in making a Union with a Bracegirdle! Such Uncouth Behaviour was not Unexpected in one who had such a Family, although he did not Deserve such a Tragic End! However, do not think that once I had Recovered my Composure, that I Did Not Recognise young Meriadoc's Sense of Humour! Why Else would he have Left me there when he is usually So Polite! (I put Meriadoc's Usual Gallantry down to Menegilda's Influence!) But the lad is After All, half-Took, and given to Jests! Dreamflower here: Thanks sweetie for the lovely reviews! I hope you had a restful night full of good dreams.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 30: Meriadoc and Peregrin, S.R. 1484
Aww, I love this! It's sad that Merry and Pippin's children never saw their fathers again, but at least the two were with their Kings again. Kaylee
Author's reply
I think that their children knew it would be best if their fathers left, that they needed to go back to those places they'd been in their youth. Have you ever read Elanor's "A Secret Gate"? It's the best story I know of about Merry and Pippin going away. It's not on SoA, and it's still a WIP, but if you want to read it, I'll send you a link!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 29: "Samwise at Cirith Ungol"
I prefer my spiders to be more like Charlotte than Ungoliant and Shelob, myself! LOL! But this is excellent work. Thank you for sharing it! Kaylee
Author's reply
Thanks! I must say I think Charlotte would be much better company than Shelob! In fact, I can imagine Charlotte scolding Shelob for giving spiders a bad name!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 28: Messages Home
So that's why the messages never got through! Ick. :( Kaylee
Author's reply
Well, it seemed impossible to my mind that the hobbits would not have written home once it was safe to do so! But of course the world was still unsettled and it would be hard for messages to get through-- and though none knew it, the war in the North was not quite over yet!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 27: Time for a New Song
Aww, poor lad! Still, he'll have a chance at a better, or at least happier, life now. Kaylee
Author's reply
He certainly will! And if you know my Menelcar at all, you know that he does have a bright future ahead of him as a bard!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 26: The Path of Wisdom
Chilling! And I agree with your thoughts on Saruman!
Author's reply
*nods* Saruman began playing with fire when he decided he was cleverer than Sauron.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 25: What Goes Around
Awwwww, poor lad! My sister and I broke our father's telescope once, when we were little ones. It was an accident, but like Merry's lad, we hadn't been given leave to touch it. The lens fell out...I don't remember if it actually broke. Probably. But the fact that it came off enraged our dad, and...well, I don't want to think about what happened next, at least on SoA. I'll tell you privately, if you want the whole story. We were younger than I think Theo is here. Anyway, I hope all will be well with Theo. Kaylee
Author's reply
The spyglass in this story has featured in several of my other stories, most notably "Another Kind of Quest". Saradoc was more understanding than most fathers would have been, and I am sure the memory of his own father's reaction to when he and Pippin broke that one tempered Merry's reaction to this accident. Telescopes are a lot more delicate than they look, aren't they?
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 24: Counting Crows
I don't think I've ever heard that one outside this story, either! Did you make it up? You're an excellent poet, so I know that isn't beyond you, lol!! Kaylee
Author's reply
Yes, I made it up to fit the story, though it is of course, based on the many such "counting poems" that do exist, as well as the clapping games children of many cultures play.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 23: There was echo of song
Wow. Haunting. Is the lone traveller meant to be Tolkien, I wonder? Kaylee
Author's reply
It could be. I didn't want to get that specific, though. I wanted the mood of the story to remain mysterious...
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 22: What We Can
I'm so glad that your Thranduil, like mine, would be willing to share. Sometimes I've seen Thranduil portrayed as unwilling to help anyone, and that's sad. :( Kaylee
Author's reply
I've been much influenced on Thranduil by daw the minstrel and Bodkin here on SoA, and by Jael, who posts elsewhere, whose versions of Thranduil seem very realistic, and explain some of his harshness towards the Dwarves while showing that he is usually a lot more reasonable, LOL! Did you know that originally it is quite likely that JRRT was actually modeling the Elvenking of The Hobbit after Thingol? And that Thranduil was probably an afterthought when he began writing LotR? I got that morsel from The History of The Hobbit and found it fascinating.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 21: "Lament for Boromir"
Exquisite...that's all I can really say. Just exquisite. It's one of my favorite poems. Poor Boromir. Well done! Kaylee
Author's reply
Thanks! I wish I could have posted the art here on SoA instead of just the link. The poem just seemed so perfect for the prompt!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 20: In a Pinch
Awwwwww, poor Ranger! But good job, Bandy!!! I adored this one, Dreamflower. Do you have more on Bandobras?
Author's reply
I don't have much yet-- I do have a little story of his youth in my "Twice Twenty" collection, in which Bilbo tells the story of how Bandobras came by the nickname of "Bullroarer" (which is also the name of the story). But I do hope to tell more of this episode later. AFTER I get my other WIPs finished-- or at least mostly finished, LOL!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 19: Listening for Returning Feet
Oh, I do so love Bilbo and Frodo reunions!!! *beams* Kaylee
Author's reply
Me too! *beams back*
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 18: Pity
Poor Hammie! Thanks for pointing me back to this story, Dreamflower...me being me, I had/have to read and review the whole lot, so your inbox is going to be filled up *again*, LOL!!! I can't say I'm *particularly* sorry for that. *impish grin* I do love the way Gandalf bonds with the hobbits!!
Author's reply
And I can't say I'm particularly sorry for waking up to the delight of a full inbox! In UT, we are told that what drew Gandalf to hobbits was "their Pity" for one another during the Long Winter; I've always wanted to explore that a little. So this was a good challenge.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 17: Better to Give Than to Receive
Dear Miss Dora, I must say, these Letters were full of Sound and Good Advice, as I have Come to Expect. I have a Young Cousin who is Coming of Age on the Morrow, but Unfortunately she is Living in Another Country at Present. I had No Way to Send her a Gift, as I do Not Have her Present Address (My Aunt has Not Given it to Us) but I Plan to Send a Message by the Electronic Quick Post. Would it be Correct to Give her a Belated Gift at Yule, alongside her Yule Gift, when she Returns Home? Sincerely, Miss Kaylee Arafinwiel (Dreamflower, I love these letters! Folco is so sweet, and I love Frodo and Daisy, too! I'm going to post a birthday message to Jennifer's Facebook page, but I do wish she was here to spend her birthday with us, as she's turning 21 and that's very special.)
Author's reply
My Dear Miss Kaylee, While I find it Most Distressing to hear of such a Young Person being off on an Adventure so far from Family and Friends, it is Commendable of you to be so Thoughtful of her on her Special Day! Distance often means that Exceptions must be made to the Correct Customs. And in Truth, a belated Gift is Not Incorrect, so long as it is Not Given At the Party! Dreamflower says: I'm glad you love this bit of correspondence! I rather thought you might! *grin*
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 16: Clear View
Well, I'm always fond of "Boromir Lives!" AUs...so Boromir is Steward, and Faramir only Prince of Ithilien here?
Author's reply
Yes, exactly! I really enjoyed the chance to remix Claudia's story, as it gave me a chance to create a "Boromir Lives!"AU, something I had always wanted to try, but it took her story to show me how I could do it. And I thought a little follow-up was in order.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 15: A Visit to Cousin Hugo
Ah! It is hard to believe that Hugo and Frodo, being so nice, could be stuck with such nasty relations! Poor Hugo and Frodo, but at least *they* get along well! Kaylee P.S. I loved the bit about the bookcase! It made me laugh =)
Author's reply
Yes, well, we can't choose our relatives-- but at least we can choose which ones we like to spend time with! I always got a kick out of that bit about the bookcase. Have you ever read Primsong's "Nothing of Note" here at SoA? It's a delightful long story about Bilbo, and has some nice chapters about Cousin Hugo that gave me quite a giggle!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 14: A Question of Gratitude
You know, that Gives me An Idea...or rather, rekindles it, as I'm having a little Difficulty with it! *ponders* Hmm... But yes, I love it when Miss Dora is Made to Think! Heh! =) (Is Miss Dora writing Any More Lately?) Kaylee
Author's reply
Miss Dora has been rather quiet lately! I think perhaps because her Scribe is currently taken up by Bilbo's correspondence and by other considerations. But I am sure she'll have more to say sooner or later...
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 13: Turned Away
Ah - yes, that edict *would* make things very difficult! And even the King obeyed it, isn't that right? At least the tinker did get his customers after all! Kaylee
Author's reply
Yes, even the King himself refused to cross into the Shire, to set a good example. In "my" universe, Merry and Pippin and Sam don't approve of the edict at all, but go along with it; Sam because he knew Frodo would approve, and Merry and Pippin because at the time their fathers were still the Master and Thain. I don't especially approve either, but it's canon, so I try to work within that in my stories. I do have the built-in exception of their having to get permission from Thain, Master and Mayor. Since JRRT only mentions the edict, but not any of the details from it, we fic writers are free to interpret it as we will.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 12: Appreciating the View
Appreciation of nature is always good! *grin* Trust hobbits, indeed!
Author's reply
Well, there's more than one way to appreciate it; looking at a pretty view is one way-- but gratefully taking advantage of nature's bounty is most certainly another!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 11: White Stone
This is lovely, Dreamflower. I love poems about Arwen!
Author's reply
Ever since I wrote "The Token", I've been fascinated by the connections between Frodo and Arwen. They are much more closely connected than it appears at first when you read the story, and their sacrifices are like two sides of the same coin.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 10: September 23, S.R. 1401
Oh yes, this fits very well. And yet they will see each other again, so it isn't the end of all things. Well done :)
Author's reply
Yes, there were other "worst and best" times I had considered, but this was one I had not dealt with much, so I chose it.
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 9: Breaking the Rules
Well, it had to start somewhere! Glad to see some of the Shirriffs found their plain hobbit-sense, as Sam might say! Kaylee
Author's reply
It was hinted in canon that while *some* of the Shirriffs had joined for a chance to boss their fellow hobbits around, most of them were either already shirriffs and not allowed to quit, or had been coerced into their positions by threats. Once the threats were taken away, they'd be glad to stop being bullies!
Kaylee Arafinwiel · 26 October 2011 · Chapter 8: Eye-Opener
"In Moria, in Khazad-dum"! You know, I love that song. Of course, then the Balrog shows up... Kaylee
Author's reply
Yes, then the Balrog showed up. *sigh* But it was, after all, for the best...