Fell Winter

[rabidsamfan]

February

Seldom that month did he see the sun, and only as a pale round brightness through the clouds. Storm after storm swept down from the north, bringing wind and snow like tiny stones to sting any unguarded corner of skin. Bungo gave up trying to pack down a path and he and Bilbo dug a tunnel instead as far as Bagshot Row, to fetch the tenants back up to Bag End. It felt odd to have guests so painfully polite, and it wasn't until he and Holman Greenhand had a squabble that ended in bloody noses that Bilbo could relax.

Early March

The Noakes' baby was too soon born, and too soon dead, and the only comfort Belladonna could offer was a place beside her own lost babes beneath the larch in the garden. Bilbo insisted on helping to dig through the snow and the rock-hard ground, and she was proud of him, though she did not tell him so. Later, she saw him quietly nursing blisters on winter-soft hands as they stood by the tiny grave. He was so much like his father it wrung her heart.

As they turned to go back inside again she heard the first distant howl.

Comments

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

*shivers with delight and trepidation*

(I love the end of the first one)

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Trepidation is good...

[danachan.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is getting better. That second last line gave me shivers. That first -- pardon any puns -- really does pack punch. But I love them both.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

*grin* Thanks!

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

Bilbo insisted on helping to dig through the snow and the rock-hard ground, and she was proud of him, though she did not tell him so. Later, she saw him quietly nursing blisters on winter-soft hands as they stood by the tiny grave. He was so much like his father it wrung her heart.

And now I can see him in front of my very eyes. Bravissimo.. I'll take the whole row of months, if you allow, and translate them for my site, okay?

BTW - I asked one of the very few german authors on my site for her favorite tale; she said it's Faramir and Pippin, one of the very first drabble from you I ever translated.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

You're always welcome to translate anything of mine as long as you let me know you've done so.

And I'm tickled to know that "Faramir and Pippin" has such a loyal audience!

[elasg.livejournal.com]

Those are excellent! You know, I don't think I have ever read a fic about Bilbo as a lad. This is a first! And very well done too! I love these glimpses of yours. I am not a big one for drabbles, usually, but I really like yours - you illuminate much more than the tried and true with them - and I like that.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying this. There must be more stories about young Bilbo out there somewhere though!

[lindelea1.livejournal.com]

There must be more stories about young Bilbo out there somewhere though!

There must be! Though I admit I haven't seen any (yet).

I do offer a glimpse of a very young Bilbo in the first and last chapters of "Shire: Beginnings" (though it is not stated explicitly that the first chapter consists of the Old Took and young Bilbo, hopefully people reading the last chapter will realise who was in the first chapter...)

But I haven't written an entire "young Bilbo" story. I do have a "Long Winter" story outlined, as well as a "Fell Winter" story, though they are pretty far down on the list at the moment.

You have done an incredible job of bringing the "Fell Winter" to life!

(But :::whimper::: more Bergil? Pretty please?)

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

I haven't given up on Bergil. I just haven't found a good reason why Sam won't just bundle the boy into bed and let him sleep until noon. Which would be good for Bergil, but bad for the story, if you see what I mean...

And the drabbles are priming the creative pump a little.

p.s. I'd love to see your winter stsories some day!

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Oh! These are very exciting and vivid and just right! :) Poor hobbits.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! (They're a bit chilly to write, though!)

[lily-the-hobbit.livejournal.com]

I love the Fell Winter - Series!! You put so much into 100 words, it always amazes me.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm contemplating the next bit.

[slipperieslope.livejournal.com]

*shivers*

Wonderful. Thank you.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

*offers blanket*

[b-briarwood.livejournal.com]

Wow, excellent! I like reading a bit of the untold stories.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There must be a lot of untold stories about that winter, don't you think?

[dreamflower]

I am *really* loving your young Bilbo! I adore Bilbo stories, and there are entirely too few of them.
And this one is so very evocative. I am really eager to know what comes next!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'm thinking on it, truly I am!

[elycia.livejournal.com]

This is a fantastic series. The picture you've drawn of the horrors of the Fell Winter is very realistic, especially to anyone who's ever lived through a bad winter storm outside of a major city, having to get by on whatever's in the house, and with no hope of being able to travel. Your drabble manages to convey both the gravity of the situation and the unbreakable hobbit spirit. And of course, being a TOTAL sucker for anything Bilbo, I'm loving your look into his youth.

Looking forward to more!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Why thank you! I'm rather fond of the old boy myself.

[melilot-hill.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful! And that last line is great. Can't wait for the next bit.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Your wait is over!

[mariole.livejournal.com]

The Noakes' baby broke my heart. Lovely work.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you.