Minerva Organa
· 28 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
Beauteous! Delightful, fabulous, and all those other praise-worthy words.
Seriously though, I love your rendition of a younger Aragorn. He's got all the proper insecurities and stumblings (quite literally) of a young man with a great weight on his shoulders, and it's so fitting that it's Tom Bombadil of all people to help make that weight seem a bit lighter. Love it!
And since I can't reply to author replies, I do sometimes wish that I'd thought to make my LJ name and pen name the same, LOL! It'd be a bit less confusing, wouldn't it?
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the 2nd chapter... young-man Aragorn is a little tricky to write. Make him *too* insecure and he's not Aragorn; make him too *secure* and he can come across as all wrong for his age and arrogant besides.
And you know, it was AGES before I realized that you and Suzll on LJ were the same person! LOL! *sigh* I catch on slow, what can I say...
Minerva Organa
· 28 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
Heee! I remember reading this on the LJ, but am quite happy to see it here! And with two extra chapters, huzzah *g*. I love when two characters who never interact actually meet, and as always you have captured them all splendidly.
Author's reply
Thank you, Minerva! (That always seems so strange to me, to call you Minerva over here. LOL) Yep, it's a little bit tweaked from the LJ version, and a lot expanded. Hope you enjoy the two additional chapters!
racheschn@yahoo.com
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
Hey Aragorn, look what a bump in the head will do to a fella!
And all the while I'm sure Aragorn is thinking, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas..I mean... Middle Earth anymore"!
"young man" and "day dreaming" and "twit". poor Aragorn. He never hears the end of it.
This is such a delight. I love it! I love your Tom. You have captured his essence as Tolkien have written him.
PS - I was so excited to see a story from you that I left a review without logging in earlier. Yup that was me, the anonymous reviewer in chapter 1.
Author's reply
hee hee... so that was you! *g* I don't mind anonymous reviews when they're nice ones like that (I've had a few snarky ones left anonymously through the years). But I'm glad you spoke up and let me know it was yours. LOL
And thank you for this one as well. I imagine in the future, when Aragorn tells the tale of his adventure with Tom Bombadil, he'll gloss over the whole falling-down-the-riverbank part! Wouldn't do for Halbarad or Elladan and Elrohir to find out about that little detail. Glad you like my take on Tom... he ended up being pretty fun to write, surprisingly. I wasn't sure I could do much more than sort of reword what Tolkien already had him saying, but I think I was able to come up with new things about him that still stayed true to the original. I think he's been the hardest Tolkien character so far that I've tried to interpret.
Thanks for the review--and for taking off your cloak of invisibility! *g*
shirebound
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
"...but today, ah yes! Today you are simply a very young man, and young men regularly fall into daydreams and down river banks."
It's so good for Aragorn to be reminded of that. What a heavy burden for such a young man!
You've captured Tom's speech and poetry so beautifully, as well as the spell of being in the presence of he and his Lady. I love how you've woven into Tom's speech the words he later speaks to the hobbits at the Barrow. Lovely story!
Author's reply
Thank you, shirebound! I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter... Aragorn did need a reminder not to take his occasional foibles so hard. I can imagine he might think he needed to be perfect.at.everything since he was supposed to someday be a king! Thank goodness for the wisdom of elders. :)
Mirach
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
Ah, lovely! I'm beginning to see a pattern... A young Dúnadan chieftain is so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't pay attention to his surroundings - which leads to the necessity of being rescued by no other than Tom Bombadil himself :D
I also wanted to place this story in the time when Aragorn was on the way to take his place as a chieftain, but couldn't find a reason for him to be around the Old Forest, so I decided to move it just a few months later =) I see you found the reason - his own curiousity!
I loved the poems you wrote for Tom, especially the line about wandering kings. I only missed some "medical report", because in the evening, Aragorn was barely able to stand, and in the next day he already went on his own way (and Goldberry let him), so I'm not sure how serious his injury actually is. You say the next chapter is the last one? I wonder if we'll meet Tom again, or the Dúnedian already...
Author's reply
Thanks, Mirach... glad you liked the poetry and the chapter. :) I figure that in that time after leaving Rivendell, Aragorn likely had to do some soul-searching even as he explored Eriador, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that he'd find himself exploring the area around the Withywindle. As for the medical aspects... he really didn't have a horribly bad concussion. He was a bit wobbly at first, hence the help getting to his feet and to the house, but a good night's sleep put him to rights (and maybe a little help from the mysterious Tom who might have a bit of the healer in him? I'll leave that to the imagination...). As I've said in other review replies, the h/c isn't the emphasis in this story, so the effects of the bang on the head are relatively minor this time around.
AzureSkye
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
Oh, poor Aragorn. LOL. Thinking the Dunadain speak a different language....No, I think he'll do fine. 'Course, the inside jokes will be quite another thing...but he'll get use to them. Well, as this is a three part fic, I suppose we'll meet the twins and some of the Dunadain next chapter....:) YAY!
Author's reply
Thanks, AzureSkye, glad you liked this chapter. Aragorn's imagination really is starting to run away with him, isn't it! And who can blame it... it's a huge step he's about to take. We'll see if he can keep a stern rein on it. :)
Dreamflower
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
Oh, how nice to see more of this! You've done a great job with Tom's rhyming! And I love Aragorn's reaction to Tom's hints and to Tom's knowing who he is. You show him here as realistically young and insecure-- he has only just left the nest, after all! And yet that kernel of self-honesty and good sense is still there in spite of his youth.
Author's reply
Thank you, Dreamflower! I have to be honest and confess that I really have no idea how I managed to write that poetry! Poetry is *not* my thing, as a rule, but I guess getting into Tom B's head helped in that regard. And I wanted to show Aragorn in exactly that light: young and insecure, but still with an inner strength that might sway a bit but never break. Glad you enjoyed this!
Ellynn
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
Now I feel like eating strawberries with cream! Look what you did to me!
Author's reply
Hee hee... I hope they're in season where you live. :)
Larner
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
Ah, love the recognition that Tom is somehow beyond his reckoning and his ability to fully emulate, and the welcome he knows--not to mention hints of the Master's poetry! Again, delightful!
(And Aragorn addressed as a twit? Hehehehehe!)
Author's reply
Thank you, Larner! Hee... yes, Tom called Aragorn a twit! I figure not many people in Arda could get away with that. As for Tom being beyond reckoning--I think to anyone besides perhaps a Maia, Tom would be a mystery. Part of that stems of course from the fact that Tolkien himself never fully explains him! Glad you enjoyed this chapter.
Fantasia
· 27 May 2011
· Chapter 2: ‘Tis The Way of the World And Every Young Twit
What a lovely chapter, so quiet and merry, I mean, if you consider his other adventures. He is so young, a glimpse of a very unsure Aragorn. Love your Tom, and his songs!
I always was a little confused with Goldberry, the river-daughter. They were like nymphs? Another race? There is not too much information about them and you wonder about how many other races were in ME and their potential.
Glad that Aragorn is with friends and well.
Author's reply
Thank you, Fantasia! Yes, it is a merry chapter--I didn't go the "Aragorn's in dire straits" route with this one because I wanted to explore Aragorn's character, and Tom's, in other ways. I'm always intrigued by Goldberry as well... perhaps she's a sort of spirit of Arda much in the same way Tom is. It's a bit maddening that Tolkien gives us so little clue about either of these characters, but then again, it does leave a lot of room for the imagination!
Larner
· 26 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
Wonderful encounter.
Author's reply
Thank you, Larner!
Inzilbeth
· 25 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
I'm so glad that the original idea of a brief encounter between Tom and Aragorn developed into this lovely three parter. It's rare to see this character included in fan fic but your Tom is spot on. And the verses you've written for him are fabulous.
I feel very spoiled to have received such a lovely birthday gift. Thank you so much.
Author's reply
Thank you, Inzilbeth! And of course, you shouldn't feel spoiled because the idea after all was yours, and you'd given it to me ages ago, so I in fact owed you this. The timing just worked out that it could do double duty as a birthday gift. *g* I'm glad you like how I handled Tom... he's definitely not an easy character to get right. It's little wonder, really, he doesn't see much time in fanfics!
Mirach
· 25 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
Yay, the Aragorn and Tom Bombadil story, just in the time when I'm writing my own! It's a delight to read, and I'm curious how similar our stories will be :D
Author's reply
Thanks, Mirach! Glad you like it so far. And how weird is it that we both decided to tackle Tom B. at practically the same time?? Of course, you've already touched on some of Tom B's poetry--at least the subject matter--with your "Crossroads of Light and Shadow", which no matter how many times I read, still gives me goosebumps. It'll be interesting how you write Tom B himself. Good luck!
Elentarri
· 25 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
Whooppeee - Another story!! :D
Thank you so much for posting something. Can't wait for the rest.
The last paragraph of this chapter is really emotive.
Happy writing.
Tanya
Author's reply
Thank you, Tanya! Glad you liked this first chapter. :) This one isn't a long story, but at least it's *something*. LOL Hope you enjoy the rest!
Darkover
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
Dear Cairistiona: This first chapter seems delightful! I admit that I am not normally a Tom Bombadil fan, but I like the way you have introduced him in this story--as well as your description of Aragorn's reaction to him--and so I can hardly wait to read further chapters as this story develops. Thank you for writing and posting this first chapter, and please post again soon! Sincerely, Darkover
Author's reply
Thank you, Darkover! Can I be honest and say that Tom B. isn't exactly a favorite of mine, either? LOL I wrote this because of a challenge, of course, otherwise I don't know that I ever would have tried that character. But looking at him through Aragorn's eyes gave me a little more perspective on him, I guess you might say. I'm glad you enjoyed this and hope you enjoy the rest!
Fantasia
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
Hi Cairistiona (I never said, but you have a very hard pen name)
As usual, a pleasure to read any of your stories and, as usual, Aragorn is hurt again. Poor guy, it is a wonder how he ended as King of Gondor and Anor after all his adventures. So good to know that you are posting, I wish that you will do it more often. I miss so much Aragorn and his merry band of Rangers.
Thank you
Author's reply
Thank you, Fantasia... I hope you enjoy this story. He's not really hurt badly this time, just a bump on the head. :) As for how often I post... I wish real life let me spend more time writing so I could post more often. I don't like these long stretches without posting, but at the same time, I don't want to just throw stories together just to be posting something. Thank you for your patience in hanging in there waiting for each tale!
shirebound
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
I'm thrilled that you're continuing this story. I love it so far and can't wait to read more.
Author's reply
Thanks, shirebound! I hope you like the rest of it!
Linda Hoyland
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
A most enjoyable start to what promises to be a fascinating tale!
Author's reply
Thank you, Linda! Glad you liked the start... hope you like the rest!
AzureSkye
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
Oooh. This should be interesting...And I think I'd do the same if I met Tom like that.....:)
Author's reply
Thank you, AzureSkye! I'm with you... meeting up with a character like that, unexpectedly, would definitely make my doubt my sanity.
Anonymous
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
What a great introduction. Poor Aragorn. I'm sure staring at those bright yellow boots are not doing his head any good. Can't wait for the next update.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I'm sure you're right--can you imagine the glare off those boots, when you have a possible concussion? Ouch!
Thanks for reviewing!
Elflingimp
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
That was wonderful.....and Aragorn isn't the only one who had tears in his eyes! Hugs The Imp
Author's reply
Aw, thanks, Imp! So glad you liked this!
curiouswombat
· 24 May 2011
· Chapter 1: Surely I Have Gone Mad...
I do love your songs for Tom, in this.
Author's reply
Thanks, curiouswombat... I really never would have imagined I could write poetry like that. I'm worse than terrible at it, usually. But for some reason, it sort of popped out on its own (which is a good thing, given my lack of skill!)
More of it in the next chapter. :)