curiouswombat: (Starlight trees)
[personal profile] curiouswombat
I've been drabbling. I thought it would be good for me, and so I have been taking part in a series of challenges on [livejournal.com profile] tolkien_weekly with the theme of 'Eat, drink and be merry.'
So under the cuts are drabbles for the following -




Never Again.

The centre of Caras Galadhon was decorated with glowing lights, garlands of flowers, and swathes of fabric; all the inhabitants of the great elven city were invited.

The food was wonderful; tiny savouries, cakes, fruits, and little rose-water flavoured sweetmeats from Near Harad. There was even ice-cream, made on ice brought down the river from the high mountains. A feast to celebrate Tindómiel’s Coming of Age.

Yet through it all ran a thread of sadness. This would be the last such occasion; Tindómiel had been the last elfling born in Lorien. No Coming of Age celebration would ever happen again.





Not a Drop to Drink

The water was dark, sluggish, he would rather go thirsty than drink it. Despite his thirst, or because of it, his thoughts roamed to other rivers, other water.

Sparkling, running, water; backdrop of sound to all memories of Imladris. Crystal jugs of soft, cool, water in Lorien. Water, gulped from a stream in Rohan, tasting of peat. Water, tepid, but welcome, washing away the taste of death at the Pellanor.

Water, dancing between trees, despite the Shadow. No! Shut out thoughts of home!

One day, he promised, he would return here, with other elves, and make it feel like home.




I've Got To Do What?

Hobbits keep goats. Men may keep cattle, but hobbits keep goats. However Merry had never tried to milk one – that was lasses’ work. Not that it could be that hard – put the bucket underneath, aim and squeeze. (Had there been a hobbit lass around she might have told him it was not that simple.)

Men may keep cattle, but men are taller than hobbits, stronger, with bigger hands. This is why hobbits keep goats.

No wonder, then, that Merry was aghast when someone told him that, as a knight of The Mark, he would be expected to milk a mare.




The Hardest Month

The youth sat, propped by pillows, in his bed. She had expected to bury him alongside his father and yet he lived; wounds healing, fever gone.

The woman placed a bowl of steaming broth, made with the last of the winter’s bacon, in front of the man at the table. It was hardly a fitting feast for one who had given her back her only son.

Then she remembered.

“Wine!” she said, lifting down a stone jar covered in dust.

Aware of the honour, but expecting little, Aragorn raised the cup, and a shaft of liquid summer warmed him through.

...........................

Disclaimer: The characters in these stories do not belong to me, but are being used for amusement only, and all rights remain with the estate of JRR Tolkien.


I am a perfectionist in some things - all are a proper 100 words! Some of you may recognise the first one - it might remind you of Return of The Key...

In other news - we still haven't any snow :~(

I'd quite like some...
(deleted comment)

Date: 06/02/2009 11:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
Thank you. Just enough for a snowman would do - the kids must be so frustrated!

Date: 06/02/2009 10:55 pm (UTC)
gillo: (Book Lover)
From: [personal profile] gillo
I love the thought of Merry milking a mare!

It does seem a little unfair - they've had snow either side of the Irish Sea, after all. I suppose you get Gulf Stream on both sides of the island, which keeps it even warmer. Not even a frosting on the hilltops?

Mind you, cold and slippery does have its down side.

Date: 06/02/2009 11:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
Thank you. We had snow on the hills, but not low enough down! It's been pretty cold - it got to 5C briefly today, and that's the warmest it's been for a week, mainly it's been about 0-2, but there has been no precipitation of any sort.

Although, I have to say, I like cold clear winter days.

Date: 06/02/2009 10:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com
very nice. It's great to see drabbles that stick to the rules. :)

Date: 06/02/2009 11:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
Thank you. Actually they are pretty strict in that group - but it is good discipline I find.

Date: 06/02/2009 11:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ffutures.livejournal.com
Very good indeed.

BTW, how do you keep your patience with your imitator on TTH?

Date: 06/02/2009 11:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
Thank you.

your imitator on TTH

You mean the one who writes in very, very short chapters?

And with a summary that read something like She won't join the Fellowship, she'll never see the Ring, but the effect she has on those around her will create ripples. Cast through dimensions, the Key is a stone thrown into the pool of fate.?
Edited Date: 07/02/2009 12:38 am (UTC)

Date: 07/02/2009 02:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lindahoyland.livejournal.com
These are all lovely but I especially enjoyed the "wine" one.

Date: 07/02/2009 11:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
Thank you!

As for the 'wine' one - hmm - could it being your favourite have anything to do with who the central character is...?

Date: 07/02/2009 11:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lindahoyland.livejournal.com
Ypu are getting to know me all too well LOL!

Date: 07/02/2009 02:13 pm (UTC)

Date: 07/02/2009 09:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ozma914.livejournal.com
Nice drabbles -- but you can have some of our snow!

Date: 07/02/2009 11:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
What a kind offer - how will you post it? :~P

Date: 07/02/2009 11:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ozma914.livejournal.com
Why -- snowmail, of course.

Date: 07/02/2009 11:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ningloreth.livejournal.com
What I like about these is the way you've kept the meaning hidden until the very last line. And because you're short of space you've concentrated on imagery.

Who is the elf in the second one? Legolas?

I think I like the last one best: 'a shaft of liquid summer' really hits the taste buds!

Date: 07/02/2009 01:18 pm (UTC)
ext_15169: Self-portrait (Default)
From: [identity profile] speakr2customrs.livejournal.com
the way you've kept the meaning hidden until the very last line.

I taught her that; at the first Writercon UK MidiMeet, in 2007, I did a talk on Writing Drabbles and I stressed the importance of putting the meaning into the last line - and especially of not weakening the impact by having something superfluous like 'she said', or (worse) 'he said, as he walked towards the door' following the phrase which packs the punch. It's astonishing how many people don't follow that principle but most of those who were there (including the Wombat) have remembered.

Date: 07/02/2009 01:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
As he points out, I had a good teacher!

Yes - it is Legolas in Ithilien as they go to confront Sauron at The Black Gate.

I am quite pleased with that last line too!

Date: 08/02/2009 01:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zanthinegirl.livejournal.com
Lovely little drabbles! I like the little glimpses of life in middle earth!

No snow here either-- it was almost 60 the other day! Yikes! Of course they're calling for snow here tomorrow, so I've given up predicting...

Date: 08/02/2009 07:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
Thank you. We haven't had temperatures above 4-5C for a couple of weeks - about 40F.

Date: 20/12/2010 02:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] someplacetobe.livejournal.com
Poor, poor Merry!

Date: 20/12/2010 08:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] curiouswombat.livejournal.com
I do think they might have been having a little fun at his expense, there!

Date: 20/12/2010 09:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] someplacetobe.livejournal.com
I do think they might have been having a little fun at his expense, there!
Of that, I have no doubt! I haven't been able to keep from snickering when I think of Merry milking a mare.

January 2025

S M T W T F S
   1234
56 7891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated 15 Jul 2025 04:00 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios