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The Dare  by Dreamflower 12 Review(s)
LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/26/2005
O no! I'm certainly glad this story is finished and I can go on to the next chapter. What an awful cliffhanger! (Take it from me...)

I like your healer, Poppy. Is she the same as is on the "Road to Edoras"?

Pardon me for being particularly vague tonight. I took something for a migraine and while the floating sensation is not unpleasant, the muddled thoughts are a bother.

Author Reply: Thank you--you are an expert on cliffies, so I consider this high praise!

Yes, she is. She's been the Took family healer for years, even before they came to Great Smials (much like your Woodruff) who went there when Paladin and family did. Her trip South is her first time away from her duties, in fact.

You don't seem especially vague to me, LOL! But I do know what you mean.

GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/19/2005
Breathe, Pippin, breathe! You sure do like to torture the poor lad! I don't like to see him like this! This chapter was quite frightening to read and you captured the anxiety and suspense magnificently.

Thank goodness Frodo took charge of the situation. Poor Merry was quite beside himself and unable to think clearly of what needed to be done. I could just picture that steely glare that Frodo gave Clovis. That poor excuse for a hobbit had no chance against one of those glares from Frodo.

I also really enjoyed when Merry took the Banks brothers to task in the hallway. It's a pity Paladin had to call him off. And this was before the Quest. Can you imagine what Merry would have done to them if this had been *after* the Quest and he really knew how to fight?

Three cheers for Poppy! She's fantastic, the way she handled the situation and correctly reminded Eglantine that Pippin knew better and bears a lot of the blame for his state.

“Oh dear me,” said Hyacinth with a gleam in her eyes, “I wonder, is it serious?”

I hate her! Can't we use her for Ork-bait?

"Paladin looked at the two brothers. “Go to my study at once, and wait for me there, no matter how long it takes.” They looked at him, not moving. “I said go at once, or I will allow Meriadoc and Frodo to escort you there!”

They glanced at Merry, who gave them a mirthless grin. “Please, let us do that, Uncle Paladin.”"

This was a great exchange! I can picture the scene very clearly in my head. And Paladin is fantastic in this entire chapter.

“You know, I feel like it’s my fault. I should never have let him go off with those two.”

Does Merry always have to be such a Merry? Can't we get him to understand that not everything is his fault?

“I should never have allowed those horrible nephews of mine anywhere near Pippin!”

Oh, great. Now Eglantine is acting like Merry, too! They're quite a pair!

This is not at all a pretty chapter to read - most responsible of you to allow us to see the dangers of alcohol abuse in all of its ugliness.







Author Reply: I did a lot of research for this story, and the symptoms and reactions he has are as true to life as I could make them.

Merry was raher frantic at this point, and needed an older head to give him a bit of direction. He's good in an emergency usually, but a threat to Pippin has him very off-balance. And he's still pretty young himself, and is not up on what needed to be done in this particular emergency. Frodo's an adult, and well up to acting on it. And I know *I* would not want to be on the recieving end of his glacial blue glare.

Well, I *know* what he'll do to them after the Quest--that part was written first, after all, in "A New Reckoning". He could have done a lot worse, but he restrained himself somewhat.

I like my hobbity healers. Poppy's a favorite of mine.

Orc-bait, huh? Well, it's a thought. Bodkin wanted her eaten by a passing troll, LOL! For some reason, she is not very popular.

"Does Merry always have to be such a Merry? Can't we get him to understand that not everything is his fault?"

LOL! Yes, I'm afraid that's a habit he never really grows out of. It stems from his need to protect and control what happens to those he loves. When he can't protect them 100%, he tends to blame himself automatically.

Eglantine's being a mother. It comes natural.

It's one reason for the rating and the warning. I didn't want to sugarcoat what could happen.

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/25/2005
Get'em, Merry!!! Get'em! I rather like high-pitched songs....

Okay, I'll stop--for now. ;-) I really do hope that this tale will help someone make the right choice if ever faced with this sort of peer-pressure. Folk should never let the inebriated one lie on his/her back, for just the reasons you wrote about. I'll be back again tomorrow.

Pippinfan

Author Reply: Unfortunately, Uncle Paladin didn't think that assault would do much for Merry's future as Master of Buckland, so he didn't get to follow through--*then*... Of course, it's a different story a few years later...

I kind of hoped it would be a bit of a cautionary tale as well. I know a lot of youngsters read this archive.

I did a good deal of research on this one, as I'm not a drinker myself. First I picked my husband's brains (he's a nurse) and I went online as well. So keeping the person from choking is one of the very first things they say to do...


good_one_pipReviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/24/2004
I love how comforting Frodo is to Merry! And I love how concerned Merry is about Pippin. He's so scared, he doesn't know whether to feel panic, sadness, or pure rage. Tweenage years are so hard!

Author Reply: Frodo is always a comfort to Merry, just as Merry has always been a comfort to him. Don't you know having Pippin in such danger will have him all tied up in knots. It is hard to be an adolescent, and Pippin and Merry *both* are having that problem right now. Thank goodness for good old Frodo.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/23/2004
Oh, a cliffhanger... Great job.... I'm on the edge of my seat... I wouldn't have minded if merry had hit those boys for what they did.
He's not breathing,oh no!
Great job,please update soon,can't wait to see what happens next...

Author Reply: Well, don't forget--he'll be going on the Quest, so he *has* to be all right.

I'll post Ch. 4 as soon as my betas finish with it.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/22/2004
“Oh dear me,” said Hyacinth with a gleam in her eyes, “I wonder, is it serious?”

The perfect connection to your other story! This is filling in the gaps nicely. Merry's threat is also another perfect connection to the current story. I hope there is more soon. Great story!

Author Reply: I don't have much of Hyacinth in this story, but I don't imagine Pippin ever had a sick day in his life that she didn't get her hopes up.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. Hope to have it all finished very soon, so I can get back to Reckoning. (Funny how one story can push another out for a while.)

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/22/2004
Poor Pippin! I can't be too worried though since obviously he'll be okay. But poor Merry and Frodo. They'll all have to have a good cry after all the drama is over. Loved actually hearing Merry's threat. I'm going to have to go back and read the chapter where he finally gets to make good on it. :)

Author Reply: Yes, we know he'll be fine.

And now you know why Merry was still mad, even after ten years.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/22/2004
I take it all back about this being fun or exciting in the least way. You're being brutal with us, and even though I know Pip will be alright, I'm ready the help Merry with his surgery on the Banks brothers. Good thing Frodo was there, or in the state Merry is in Pip would be gone already. We're on the edge of the cliff now!

Author Reply: Sorry, don't mean to be brutal. I'll have 4 up as soon as my betas say it's done, promise!

RogerGamgeeReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/22/2004
Can we say "CLIFFHANGER?!?"

Having been an avid reader of "A New Reckoning," now I understand how Merry carried out his threat to keep the Bankses from breeding. You've left this at one of those nail-biting points that says "Where is the REST of this?" Must have the preciousss.....LOL

Well done thus far, Dreamflower! Keep it up :)

Author Reply: Chapter 4 is with my betas right now, and as soon as they say the bugs are out, I'll put it up.

Glad you are enjoying it.

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/22/2004
Yikes! "he doesn't seem to be breathing"! I like that we are getting to see what went on with all this! Merry's threat was sure powerful! I guess it is a good thing that Paladin intervened but I would hate to be the Banks brothers! It is also interesting to see Hyacinth's remark, knowing what we do from New Reckoning! Looking forward to finding out how the family pulls through this one!

Author Reply: I don't think Paladin particularly *wanted* to intervene, but I think he did so mainly for Merry's sake. Allowing Merry to beat the two idiots to a pulp would not have done much for his future as Master of Buckland.

Yes, I can see Hyacinth getting that avaricious gleam in her eye every time Pippin falls ill.

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