tarotgal

Well, it's definitely good to know you thought it was cute! :-) Thank you SO much! And wow, April 24th is right around the corner. I wish you much luck with that! How exciting to own your own home!

I'm intrigued by the cat's name. Does it have a particular meaning, or was it chosen just becuase it sounds elvish - which it really does.
Aw, thank you! I'm flattered, because I did spend some time trying to figure out a good name for her. I highly recommend anything with 'Fara' in it for a cat (I've always loved Faramir's name, as well). Anyway, to answer your question, it's the combination of two elvish words: Fara=hunter and Lavan=animal(there isn't anything in the dictionary for mouse/mice/rodent/rat). My grasp on elvish isn't so good so I don't know whether her name translates literally to "a hunter of animals" or "an animal who is a hunter" though both work just fine. It was supposed to be a misnomer (Gimli clearly states she is NOT a mouser) and I thought it PERFECT for two hunters/warriors to name their cat something tough like that.

I love that Fara was a stray they took in. Who better to take in an unwanted cat than our unique twosome?
heehee! Exactly! I guess she was a stray... though in my mind there's a little more to her backstory than that. Maybe she'll pop up in a future book and allow me to explain more. But she definitely was a cat no one else wanted. I like to think L&G are wise enough to know not to judge something by its cover, though. It's sad that she ended up letting them down on the mousing job, though.

How very practical and dwarven of Gimli to see the cat more as a household tool than a pet
I was glad that made sense. I don't see dwarves having a lot of pets running around with them down in their caves but any civilization that keeps animals like cows and horses has to have some solution to the problem of rodents.

but I suppose the role of pretty, graceful, purring, pointy-eared companion was already taken.
LMAO!! Exactly that!
I had hoped that the images of Legolas at the very end with Gimli would be obviously linked to those of the cat with Legolas in the previous scene (nuzzling against chests, purring, ears twitching, being petted, sort of kneading, etc.)

I could also insert a joke here about the 'elvish way with all good beasts', but I shall refrain.
Actually... that gives me an idea for another bit of story...

And the sickly Legolas cat snuggling part did not disappoint!
Awww, thank you kindly! I'm very glad you enjoyed it all. Nummy elf and cuddly kitty were fun to visualize for me, as well.

And the phrase 'You're a dice kitty' was just cute as all heck!
Thank you! He wasn't too stuffy at the beginning, but when I got to there that line just BEGGED for a stuffy nose. I hoped it wasn't too over the top, but I just loved the sound of it and couldn't resist. Poor snuffly Legolas *pets*

The whole last section with the falling asleep, and Gimli finding them was too adorable for words too.
heehee I'm so glad you liked it!