All Gold

[altariel]

Golden toys with keys and wheels that whirred.

All Gold

Emyn Arnen, F.A. 5

He was standing by our Elf-friend at the far end of the garden. Absolutely and completely no doubt about it, this was—

“A giant!” gasped Bron.

“Stupid! He’s not as tall as Papa!”

“But his beard!”

“He’s hardly as tall as you!”

There was lots of grown-up talk about metal and gates and things, but there were toys for both of us too, golden toys with keys and wheels that whirred. Bron got an eagle that flew. I got a dragon that puffed and roared. And there was a sun-and-moon-twisting-thing which didn’t make sense until much later when Léof arrived.

Comments

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

You really do a great job of capturing the mind of these children at different ages. Bron's logic is perfect, and reminds me of a conversation I had with my three-and-a-half year old niece when I visited her family in Uppsala (Sweden) at the end of April: She stated that I speak English, which she knew because she had visited me here in London last summer, and I agreed that I did. Then she followed it up by saying "You do speak some Swedish as well, don't you?", perfectly seriously -- and all in Swedish. *grin*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

"You do speak some Swedish as well, don't you?", perfectly seriously -- and all in Swedish. *grin*

Aw, bless her!

I'm glad they sound about right. They're a bit older than 3 and a half, so I'm probably stretching their responses a bit, but Bron is still small enough that Gimli would loom over him. And in Bron-World Bigger Person + Beard = Giant.

[solanpolarn.livejournal.com]

I was just about to say it made perfect sense to her brother as well and he is one year older, when I realized that actually I have got her age wrong! I keep forgetting that we are in 2011. So my niece is actually 4 and a half, and her brother is 5 and a half.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Phew, that's closer to the ages of the kids in the drabble!

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

I like this little snapshot of the relationship between the children.

However, I am confused (we are not at home to Ms Brain), possibly because it's such a long time since I've seen/read LoTR, and for that matter, much of your writing in this universe. Is it Gimli who has arrived? And I need Léof to explain the sun-and-moon-twisting-thing too.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I think this one is probably stretching at the bounds of 100 words quite a bit, and therefore I'm not surprised it's confusing. Yes, that's Gimli, and he's brought some toys from Dale for the Steward's children. The sun-and-moon-twisting-thing is a puzzle because Léof hasn't been born yet, so Morwen doesn't understand why there are three toys. All becomes clear some months later. (It's a tiny orrery, btw.)

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

I really did a splendid job of completely misinterpreting the last line! However, I love the thought of the tiny orrery.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I did a splendid job of making it pretty obscure! (Mostly I wanted to call a drabble "All Gold" having had "Black Magic"...)

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

"All Gold" and nothing about chocolate? Is there chocolate in Middle Earth? Or would that be another case of Denethor chewing tomatoes?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

"And all because the Steward loves... Milk Tray."

Confirming chocolate in M-E

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

There is indeed chocolate in Middle-earth. I have written of its powers and its vital role in the success of The Quest in an account covering an episode in the Walkers' journey which, for unfathomable reasons, JRRT neglected to include. May be found at FFN under my FFN nom de plumage...

Re: Confirming chocolate in M-E

[altariel.livejournal.com]

If the story is about chocolate, wouldn't that be an om nom nom de plume? ;-) (I don't think I know what your FFN name is, actually.)

Re: Confirming chocolate in M-E

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Perhaps "a nummy plum"? (Starting to sound a bit Gilbert & Sullivan here...)

To my surprise, it appears we've never corresponded directly. However, you know me online from a longstanding Yahoo group. And I think I've figured out how to send you my FFN name privately and have done so just now, I hope. The fic in question features Gimli as the hero. Enjoy!

Re: Confirming chocolate in M-E

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that private message hasn't arrived - try again? Or else my email address is: umm10 AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

I like the line-by-line reader realization that the "giant" is a Dwarf. Nice little tease...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)