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A Conspiracy of Hobbits  by Dreamflower 3 Review(s)
PeriantariReviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/28/2006
This is a wonderful fic so far and i'm glad i have a bit of time to indulge. I love your Merry and love his scheming mind and yes, i'm continuing now. =) :thumbsup:

Author Reply: Thank you! 8-D

GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/3/2005
You have such great pacing and wonderful sense of excitement going in this story!

'He did not know which frightened him more--going with Frodo into a danger far greater than he had ever anticipated, or getting left behind after all. Or leaving Pip behind.'

Yep, that's Merry - powerfully worried about Frodo, Pippin, and himself. At this point, though, he doesn't know the *real* danger. The only danger as far as Merry can tell is in Frodo not letting him go or in the unknown outside the Shire. It's not until later in the chapter that he finds out what the true danger is. At that point, there's no way that Merry would not go with Frodo.

'Two things were crystal clear to him: Frodo might as well have a target painted on his back and there was no way he could let Pippin come with them. Not into *this* kind of trouble.'

It's great to see Merry in his all-out worrying and protective mode. Are Brandybucks determined folk or does Merry get that from his rarely seen Took half?

'He had counted on Pippin’s help; now it, too, was lost. No matter how dangerous it was, Pip would never agree to staying behind if he knew they were going. And Pip was just barely twenty-eight. He wouldn’t even be an adult for five more years. To take him into this kind of trouble would be worse than cruel.'

I quite agree with you that Merry would never willingly lead Pippin into this sort of danger despite how much importance Pippin has in Merry's life. This shows just how much Merry not only enjoys but respects Pippin's intelligence and integrity, that he had been relying on him for his help. I'm glad you pointed out that for all that we see them as equals in the Trilogy, Pippin is only a tweenager of twenty-eight with five years of life experiences ahead of him before he becomes an adult. This is one of those missing moments that is vitally important to be seen. Otherwise, it looks like Merry and Sam were irresponsible for letting Pippin, a mere tweenager, be a part of and go on this dangerous Quest.

It's wonderful how you've included Freddy and Folco in here to such an extent, particularly Freddy. I am so enjoying the two of them in all of your stories.

This is a fine story and I am quite frustrated with BellSouth for saying that we will not have telephone/internet service restored at home until the 22nd of November. I want to read the rest of this story tonight! I don't want to read just a chapter or two at a time on a break at the office. *sigh* Why do you have to be such a brilliant writer?




Author Reply: Are Brandybucks determined folk or does Merry get that from his rarely seen Took half?

Well, I think that his particular *sort* of doggedness is a Brandybuck trait, but all three lines--Brandybuck, Took and Baggins each has its own particular brand of stubbornness.

This was the first story I wrote which was pre-Quest, and I had to deal with the age ratio. It seemed only logical to me that once Merry knew how serious the danger to Frodo was that he'd try his best to keep his younger cousin out of it if he could.

It was very clear from the text that Fredegar was in things up to his neck, and yet Folco was not. This is where I began to get my first inklings of their personalities.

Poor dear! I *do* understand how frustrating that is--I was cut off entirely for three weeks, and thought I'd go mad!

*blushes* Asking a question like that! Aren't you afraid you'll give me a swelled head?

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/26/2004
I love the detail of the "pre-conspiracy"! I'll return to read more later...

Pippinfan

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