(no subject)

[rabidsamfan]

Galadrim

They came across the fields by starlight, but small babies care little about the time and she was often wakeful. Soft shimmers in the grass were all she could see till she learned how to find the tall, bright figures amid the shadows. Up to the tree in the Party Field they went, every one, and most never passed the green door again.

But now and then a youth with ancient eyes would be caught between two longings and morning would find him in the garden, bewildered, until breakfast and babies and a dose of hobbitsense would send him Home.



Timeline (fiction only, most recent version, includes AU) first previous next last

Comments

[rosiegardener.livejournal.com]

I wish I could have found that gem in the moonlight instead of in bright morning sun, but nonetheless it's wonderful ! I'm a little slow this morning though - who is "she" ?

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Well, I was thinking of Rosie, actually. With thirteen babies she must have spent a lot of nights quietly wakeful while she settled a little one. But the comments are making me reconsider specifying. LoL!

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

My goodness, how beautiful - you manage it again and again to surprise me! And this made me immediately think of Those who remain... of course.

Thank you, my dear!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

*grin* I like surprising you!

You're most welcome.

[shirebound]

I've been trying to figure out exactly who "she" and "he" are, but maybe it doesn't matter. This is very lovely.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Well I thought Rosie and one of the Galadrim, but you know maybe it doesn't matter after all! Thank you!

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

I can just see the drawing of this in my head, a tall young Elf holding a laughing hobbit baby. I wonder if we could convince hyel or trilliah?

This is beautiful. :)

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Oh my yes. I'd love to see a drawing of this.

[gentlehobbit.livejournal.com]

This is lovely! Like all the others, I wonder who she and he are. Perhaps a young Frodo Gardner and a younger female sibling? Or perhaps a generation beyond them?

But identities don't really matter, do they. The ephemerality of the drabble works all the better for not pinning things down.

Lovely!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

The ephemerality of the drabble works all the better for not pinning things down.



Oh, thanks for saying so. I was feeling all wobbly because I had confused everyone and you made me feel better.

Galadrim

[eykar.livejournal.com]

I took it as a biography of Elanor, the most likely of the family to be able to see Elves -- first as a crawling baby, then as a growing child, finally as a near-adult who had learned to understand sundered longings.

I took the youth with ancient eyes to be a Sindar, one of the Elves easily enchanted with the life of Middle-earth, which explains why those who sailed west at all did so much later than the Noldor did. I'm not sure that I believe in Elves' staying to investigate hobbits, but I like the idea that some would, maybe having heard of the the great part they played in the ending of the Third Age.

Re: Galadrim

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

I saw the woman as Rosie (but why not any other descendant who is up late with a fussy baby?)

The youth is definitely an Elf. In my head he sees the mallorn in the party tree and gets homesick for Lorien, and ends up in Bag End's garden because Sam has sown other flowers he recognizes and therefore receives hobbity hospitality. But whether home is East or West is up to the reader.

It's kind of neat seeing how differently people are reading this one.

Re: Galadrim

[eykar.livejournal.com]

> but why not any other descendant who is up late with a fussy baby

I doubt that most hobbits, even Sam's other descendants, can see Elves, except the few who might want to be seen. The ones who pass through the Shire in your story don't sing, which is the usual way that they reveal their presence. They come to see, not be seen. Therefore I think that detecting them requires a gift.

Based on their usual migration habits, Elves heading west would not pass through the Shire at all unless they wanted to either visit the mallorn or know more about hobbits -- both interesting reasons. Maybe they come to see hobbits and some few get caught by the mallorn?

Re: Galadrim

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

I think they come to see the mallorn and get caught by the hobbits. *grin* It solves the paradox Tolkien gave us of people coming from far away to see the Mallorn and Elessar closing the borders of the Shire to Men, doesn't it?

And I never let myself be surprised by the unexpected qualities of hobbits...