"I Was Mistaken" - by Larner

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: 2009 Cue 17: Stereotypes. Men, in the eyes of Hobbits: big, clumsy, stupid, slow.
Format: drabble
Genre: general
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
Characters: Frodo, Paladin
Pairings: n/a
Summary: Frodo found he needed to revise his beliefs about Men.



“I Was Mistaken”

From tales told him by his kinsmen who’d traded in Bree, Frodo had been convinced Men were mostly slow, clumsy, and stupid. Certainly Butterbur appeared thusly, as did Bill Ferny.

But Strider proved to be quick, perhaps more intelligent than Frodo, and anything but clumsy.

Boromir didn’t have Aragorn’s intelligence, but his strength, endurance, and compassion impressed the Hobbit greatly.

Faramir appeared greater than his brother, nearly to Aragorn’s standards.

“I can tell you,” Frodo assured Paladin, “that the Men I have come to know are at least as varied as are Hobbits, and need to be treated with respect.”

Comments

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

You know, of all the stories I've written or read I've never seen this aspect considered. I like it.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That is a really interesting lessonfor him to have learnt along the way.

[shirebound]

Nice. And quite a few Men have had to revise their opinions of hobbits, as well. :)

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

I like this very much! :) Especially the end, where Frodo's laying the rumours about Men all being the same to rest.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Very enjoyable.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I love the fact that he recognizes and acknowledges the differences between members of a race he had little to do with before his journey. His vision is clear and I'm sure that were the shoe on the other foot, as a man he might have thought similar thoughts about Hobbits before getting to know them.

- Erulisse (one L)

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

I was impressed by Frodo, waking in Rivendell, telling Gandalf of his first impressions of Men, and particularly of how Aragorn differed from his first thoughts about the race. Thanks!

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

I so agree. Thanks!

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Well, last time I did this challenge was from Boromir's point of view, so I thought I'd turn it around this time!

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

As it was undoubtedly Paladin who helped him to the original belief Men were all the same, I think that Frodo would want to set his cousin straight. Heh!

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Linda.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

When I did this challenge in 2009 it was Boromir who had his prejudgments set aright; I felt that this time it was only fair that a Hobbit's thoughts be straightened out. Thanks, Erulisse!