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It Takes a Took by Dreamflower	10 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 11/17/2005
Oh, that was so sad! Poor Frodo--and Merry. I little understood JRRT's motive in having him leave the Shire until I read one of his letters in response to Frodo "failing"--claiming the Riing at Mt. Doom. That letter captured my heart. I actually stumbled upon it while researching something else, but I found it very insightful. As for Pippin, I am tickled right along with him as his leg heals up for dancing! Pippinfan Author Reply: I know. The first time I read the ending (at the tender age of fifteen) I was so upset--I couldn't see it as the apparently happy ending that JRRT meant it to be. And then in subsequent readings, I began to realize that one part of what made it great literature, and not just a roaring good adventure, was the bittersweet nature of the ending. It was not until I began to delve more deeply that I began to realize what underlay Frodo's decision to leave--like you, Letters was an eye-opener for me. And I read an excellent online article a couple of years ago that really made me truly understand. Its called "Too Deeply Hurt to Understand" http://www.geocities.com/karynmilos/toodeeplyhurt.html It really made an impact on me, and made me realize that Frodo was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or what WWI vet, JRRT, would have called "shell shock". Pippin's healing very rapidly. It was a very bad break, but the Ent draught helped.

good_one_pip	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/31/2004
The end of this chapter was so sad. Frodo can no longer be truly happy in the Shire, or anywhere in middle earth anymore. As you said in the previous chapter, they must loosen these deep bonds, otherwise the saddnes of the Grey Havens will be unbearable. Are you going to discuss that in this story? Author Reply: Frodo is gradually coming to realize that his time in the Shire is going to be short, though he has not truly made up his mind to sail West yet. According to JRRT, he did not make that decision until his next spring anniversary, just about the time Elanor was born. But he knows that his health is deteriorating, and that he is not going to survive many more anniversaries. Merry and Pippin have not quite yet absorbed all this, although Merry has had his suspicions. But they are still in denial about it. They do not want to admit that they may yet lose Frodo, especially Merry. I've already discussed it some, and it may come up some more, but it is not going to find a solution quite yet.

eiluj	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
Oh, poor Frodo! Poor Merry! Poor Pip! Author Reply: Indeed, our poor lads. Poor Sam, too. It's so heart-breaking to think of what's coming.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
Christmas doesn't help with reviewing, you know. People keep making me take my attention off new chapters. Pippin appears to have learned patience. Remarkable what a troll landing on you will do. So many pluses for those able to continue with their lives. And then one huge minus. Merry and Pippin must suspect now that there will be no healing for Frodo. Author Reply: Being squashed by trolls is definitely a learning experience. And having been through that healing process once before, he knows that pushing the envelope too much could set him back more than he wants. Of course, sometimes his youthful impatience comes through after all, but he is making an effort at patience. I think Merry's suspected it for a while, but he is just now beginning to realize the extent of permanent damage the Quest did to his beloved Frodo, and what possible outcome that could lead to.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
Poor Merry! His Frodo won't be there for Yule. It is difficult the first time a loved one isn't around for the holidays. You do get used to it, but the first couple of times, it just isn't the same. At least Pippin's making sense. And getting around. Had to laugh at Pippin vainly trying to keep information from Merry. Thank goodness Merry's there or who knows what Pippin would try to get away with. Author Reply: This is exactly the case. My Merry has never spent a single Yule without Frodo. And add to it his growing fear that he is going to lose Frodo forever after all (which, sadly he is) it has to be hitting him very hard. In this case, it's Pip there with the comfort--and as you said, showing some sense. Well, I'm sure he would have stretched that twenty minutes as far as he could go. ("Twenty minutes out, and tweny back again...") not to mention trying to ride, no telling what else. But in this case, Merry's on the ball.

Eruviluieth	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
So sad! I'm glad Pip's going to be able to dance with Diamond, but now Frodo won't get to meet his lass! Frodo planned it, I know. He made sure his letter would arrive in time to be polite, but too late to change his mind. Please keep on, I'm so eager to know what comes next. BTW, thanks for the quick updating you've been doingm - much appreciated! Author Reply: Well, Frodo did meet Diamond right after Pip broke his leg, but not since then. Yes, I think Frodo did plan the timing of the note to make it difficult for Merry to come after him. That is something Merry had done sometimes before the Quest when Frodo didn't want to make the trip to Buckland. I'm trying to update as quickly as I can right now, but it may slow down a bit, as I have to work for a few days. I'm going to try to keep them coming quickly if I ccan though.

SharonB	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
LOL, Merry is worse than a mother hen for Pippin. And even worse he knows that he can't get around Merry with these things. They do know each other so well. At lest he should be able to havea dance with Diamond during Yule. The extent of pain Fordo still has is hitting Merry very hard. Is he just realizing that Frodo might leave them, not just still having problems adjusting back to life in the Shire? HE sort of feels he is ahving to choose between Frodo and Estella in a way right now. And he knows that Frodod is not doing well because of his note. Poor Merry! Author Reply: The days when Pippin could fool Merry even a little about his health are long past. And of course, it goes both ways. I think that Merry has known for a while that Frodo would not fully adjust to life in the Shire. What he has slowly begun to realize, although he is still in some denial about it, is that his cousin is slowly dying. I don't think that he has yet considered the possiblity of Frodo's sailing West--that was not something Frodo talked about much. And Merry (and Pippin) are not going to want to admit to themselves that they are still in danger of losing him.

Ariel	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
swells with pride Yup! That's my guy! ;) A lovely chapter, even though it's short, and a nicely angsty ending with Frodo (which you KNOW I like). Thank you! Author Reply: Glad you lilke the way I used him! Thanks for letting me "borrow" him! Well, I can't keep Frodo out: even when he's not there, he's there. 8-D

Roger Gamgee	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
This was a great chapter. I suspect Merry is starting to realize now that their lives have all changed since the Quest. They can't go back to the way things were, no matter how much they might want to. I remember seeing the four of them in the inn just after the Quest, when Sam decided to pursue Rose. You could see from the looks on their faces as they surveyed the crowd that they understood - at least on some level - that things were not different. Even though life in the Shire was going on pretty much as normal, they themselves were not the same. Their experiences had changed the way they looked at their world. Good to see Pippin up and about on that cane - trust to the inherent stubbornness of Tooks! Looking forward to the next chapter in this tale...good work! Author Reply: Merry has known they couldn't truly go back, but I don't think he had counted on just to what extent that meant for Frodo. He has suspected all along that Frodo would never be his old self again, yet even so, the idea of not having him around has yet to penetrate. And my Merry has never in his life experienced a Yule without Frodo. At first Frodo lived in Buckland, but even after he went to Bag End, he always came back to Brandy Hall at Yule, no matter what. I don't think it occurred to Merry that that would change too. Thanks to stubbornness and Ent-draughts, Pip's pretty well healed, though he will have to be careful for just a little while yet. Hope to get the next one up soon, but have to go to work in a few minutes.

pipspebble	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/30/2004
Awww, I love it when they start out so happy and filled with anticipation and good times ahead and then - thud! Angst drops like a ton of bricks. It's a good thing you plan to have Estella and Diamond there at the Hall to comfort the sad lads. Lovely story, still. :-) Author Reply: I do like to mix up my angst and my happy stuff. And I've known for a while that Merry would not be happy when he found out Frodo wasn't coming. Yes, they will have their lasses there! Some nice comfort to go with the hurt.

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