Author: Pearl Took
Title: Hobbit-lad Hobbit-lad
Rating: G
Theme: Fixed Length Ficlet
Elements: the line “Where have you been?”
Author's Notes: I’m back and hoping that my little story pleases. :-)
Thank you to Dreamflower for doing a beta read and edit.
Summary: A new nursery rhyme is sweeping the Shire, but Thain Peregrin isn’t happy
about it
Word Count: 393
****************************************
Hobbit-lad Hobbit-lad
“Does it really matter, Pip?”
“Of course, it does, Merry! Would you want them messing up what happened between you and Theoden?”
“I suppose it would depend on how badly they mucked about with it,” Merry said, trying to stay calm. “You’re right, I wouldn’t want it meddled with too much. But, seriously, Pippin. This isn’t all that inaccurate . . .”
“Not that inaccurate!” His cousin’s green eyes flashed. “There’s not a grain of truth in it, Merry.” He added, struggling to control himself. How could Merry be so thick.
“Think about what happened to the story of Bilbo’s journey.” Merry countered. “This isn’t nearly so bad. Aren’t you a bit old to behave so childishly over something that’s for faunts and small children?”
“Ah . . . Well, yes, but . . .” Pippin hated it when Merry was right.
“But?”
“But that just makes it worse, don’t you see, Merry. All the hobbits of the Shire will be learning the wrong information from the time they’re little. I didn’t go to Gondor to visit the King. I didn’t even go to visit Denethor. And while I bowed, I most certainly didn’t smile before I sang.”
“Alright, the details are wrong. But, at this point I think you’re flogging a dead pony, Pippin. It has spread about the Shire already. Why don’t you just take some satisfaction from it.”
“Satisfaction? Over a misrepresentation?”
“A minor one, after all, Pippin. And you know how these things hang on. That small part of your story will most likely be remembered long after anything about the rest of us. Children’s rhymes are enduring, Pip.”
“Well . . . maybe someday I’ll be able to see it that way.” The Thain knew when he was beaten, especially by the Master. “You’re right. Maybe I’ll have it engraved on my gravestone.”
Pippin turned on his heels and walked out of his cousin’s private quarters in Brandy Hall.
Merry waited a few moments, his cousin still had excellent hearing and he didn’t want to be overheard as he recited.
“Hobbit-lad, Hobbit-lad, you have been where?”
“I’ve been down to Gondor to visit the King.”
“Hobbit-lad, Hobbit-lad, what did you there?”
“I smiled and I bowed and for Him I did sing.”
“Actually,” Merry said as he started to laugh, “It is rather catchy.”
The End
The inspiration for this story is from the old English nursery rhyme “Pussycat Pussycat.”
"Pussycat pussycat, where have you been?"
"I've been up to London to visit the Queen."
"Pussycat pussycat, what did you there?"
"I frightened a little mouse under her chair"
"MEOWW!"
First published in London during 1805 in the book "Songs for the Nursery"
The origins of the "Pussycat Pussycat" rhyme dates back to the history of 16th century Tudor England. One of the waiting ladies of Queen Elizabeth I had an old cat which roamed throughout Windsor castle. On one particular occasion the cat ran beneath the throne where its tail brushed against the Queen's foot, startling her. Luckily 'Good Queen Bess' had a sense of humour and decreed that the cat could wander about the throne room, on condition it kept it free of mice!
Title: Waiting and Worriting
Rating: G
Theme: Where Have You Been?
Elements: 110
Author's Notes: Based on Farmer Maggot's comment that he needed to get home quickly, because "Mrs. Maggot will be worriting with the night getting thick."
Summary: Farmer Maggot's wife waits for him to return on a foggy night.
Word Count: 110 as counted by Jarte
( Waiting and WorritingCollapse )
Title: A Fate Worse Than Thorns
Rating: G
Theme: "Where Have You Been?"
Elements: 333
Author's Notes: N/A
Summary: Merry and Pippin are late for lunch, with a tale of a narrow escape.
Word Count: 333
( Read more...Collapse )
Title: Report
Rating: G
Theme: "Where Have You Been?"
Elements: "Where Have You Been?"
Author's Notes: N/A
Summary: Reports along the chain of command
Word Count: 218
( Read more...Collapse )
Title: On the Disposal of Illicit Goods
Rating: G
Theme: “Where have you been?”
Elements: 237 words
Author's Notes: For Bill, for his birthday.
Summary: When the one who takes one's goods doesn't really want them or can't use them, then what is he to do with them?
Word Count: 237
( Read more...Collapse )
Title: Thistles and Beets
Rating: G
Theme: Last September's "Party" theme (Yes, it took me this long to finish it! Aack!)
Elements: Beets
Author's Notes: A double recipe fic. For Dreamflower, and for Arasia--please pray for her.
Summary: A snub at the market causes Rosie to invite two more guests to the Birthday party.
Word Count: 10,547
( Read more...Collapse )
Title: Sharing the Pain
Rating: G
Theme: Where have you been
Elements: 400 words
Author's Notes: This is an amateur effort and does not intend to infringe on the rights of J.R.R. Tolkien. No profit is made and no harm is intended. The story is set on TA 2511, after Celebrían left Imladris and passed over the Sea. This is my entry for the LotR Community July Challenge: Where have you been? My element is 400 words. It is a companion fic to Alone under the Stars, but it can stand alone too.
Summary: Elladan looks for Elrohir.
Word Count: 400
( Read more...Collapse )
Thanks for participating in the newest challenge!
The July challenge stories will be due before the reveal date of Friday, July 27. Please tag your story "challenge: where have you been", "annual challenge: fixed-length ficlet"; and "month: 2018 july". Please remember to use the header template on the community profile page, and to put the name of your story and your name in the subject line (e.g. "Frodo's Amazing Adventure by Mary Sue").
You have only to comment with your number here, that will be your element; do not choose a number someone else has selected. You will not need to wait for a prompt.
I hope we'll have lots of participants for our July challenge!
Numbers Claimed:
333
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Page Summary
lotrcom_mods : Hobbitlad, Hobbitlad by Pearl Took [+14] - lin4gondor : Waiting and Worriting by Linaewen [+12]
- keiliss : Nevermore by Keiliss [+9]
- dreamflower02 : A Fate Worse Than Thorns by Dreamflower [+14]
- mrowe : Report by Nath [+13]
- blslarner : On the Disposal of Illicit Goods - by Larner [+9]
- blslarner : Thistles and Beets - by Larner [+12]
- silver_trails : Sharing the Pain, by Silver Trails [+12]
- ceshaughnessy : It’s almost time! [+1]
- lotrcom_mods : July FLF Challenge: Where Have You Been? [+9]
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