This story began as yet another spinoff from a dream I had somewhere in the early 1990s.  As with so many of my crossover ideas, my first reaction was, "Nahhhhh...." but the more it percolated at the back of my brain, the more I realized how it could actually work.  Frighteningly easily, as it turns out.  What kept this story from going beyond the first few chapters was not a problem with the plot or the characters; it was a personal resistance toward writing fanfic based on LotR.  Although I can imitate Tolkien's style if I put my mind to it (and a lot of hard work), something inside me kept saying, "no, don't do this, you'll regret it."  And then, not so very long ago, I read something Tolkien himself had written, expressing his feeling that he had not created Middle-earth; he had "found" it, and explored it, and that it no longer really belonged to himself, but to others whom he hoped would treat it kindly in their explorations of it.  In my few attempts to do so, I have done all I can to treat the late Professor's work with all dignity and respect, even in this seemingly silly bit of fluff, which simply refused to remain ignored.  Once again, though I know where it's going, hopefully inspirational feedback will start it flowing again.