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In From the Cold  by Dreamflower 6 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/26/2011
Poor Frodo and Bilbo! It's really too bad that Bilbo took sick. *hugs them both* But at least he got better, and they both enjoyed Yule anyway!!

Kaylee

lovethosehobbitsReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/22/2006
And a happy hobbit holiday to you as well, sweet one.

PrimsongReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/29/2005
What a nice tale to find, just in time for Christmas break too. I have been wanting to find the time to explore your version of Bilbo, and am so glad to find it. Poor Bilbo, to fall into a fever when he's trying so hard to be the responsible adult and all - thank goodness they got so close to their haven before it happened. Well done, and thank you.

Author Reply: How lovely to find a little batch of reviews for some of my stories with Bilbo. It sometimes upsets me that he doesn't get the attention the younger generation does.

I'm very glad that you enjoyed it.

I have quite a few more Bilbo-centric stories, and especially in my Mathoms, and in Twice Twenty stories, he often features.

And I'm so glad you've taken up Stone of Erebor again. It's one that I always look forward to updates for.

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/1/2005
Aww, Dreamflower, how very sweet! I just love the ending, and the first little exchange between Merry and his mum is so cute and realistic. I have a six-year-old brother, and it's constantly, "But, Mommy, when can we go? Tomorrow?" "No, the day after tomorrow, honey." "But when's that?" "Well, today's Monday. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday." Frodo's my favourite, you know, and I just love stories like this! Namarie, and God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: I'm glad that you enjoyed this. It was originally written for last year's Yule Merigold Challenge.

I've had similar exchanges with little ones as well. For small children, it's so hard to be patient, and having an exact and concrete way to know *when* something will happen helps.

I know you are very fond of Frodo. If you like to see Frodo when he was young, before Bilbo went away, you might check my chronology; I have quite a few stories set either in Brandy Hall while he still lived there, or at Bag End right after he moved in with Bilbo.

GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/14/2005
So here we have our first glimpse at what the absence of the ring does to Bilbo. As Frodo noted, Bilbo hadn't been sick since the cold he got on his adventure so many years ago. But now that he put the ring away until after Yule, he straight away gets sick.

Poor Frodo, being so young and having to take care of his sick uncle on such a horrible night! But as usual, Frodo took stock of the situation and did the right thing by tucking Bilbo in as warmly as possible before going to get help. And this time, the Brandywine helped Frodo, for it was the river that allowed him to know exactly where he was and in which direction he needed to go for help.

The conversations between Esmerelda and Eglantine about their children and how special the three cousins are to each other were marvelous. They really have such a fun and easy relationship between them that is a joy to see. Merry was very much in character also, worrying whether his Frodo would make it for Yule, but brightening up when his Pippin arrived. He really is very much in the centre.

Frodo is indeed growing up if he is old enough to carry on the tradition of telling stories in Bilbo's absence. I expect he did a first rate job of telling the stories, too.

Another wonderful story.


Author Reply: For goodness sake, I don't know how I missed seeing that you'd reviewed this one, unless the notification went to my husband's computer. (That happens everynow and then, as we've the same email address, though different user names.)

I did want to show how the Ring might have been peeved enough at being set aside that it "allowed" him to get sick without it around. I have this notion about it: Bilbo never consciously realized what the Ring was doing, but unconsciously he realized it was trying to dominate him. Up until it finally began to get Its hooks into him near the end, I see him as occasionally resenting this, and making an effort to put it away from him for a while. In his conscious mind he simply rationalized that he was having an unhealthy obsession with it, and decided to counter that by parting with it for a while. And as the Ring was not completely awake yet, It did not keep him from doing so.

I think Frodo's calm and rational response to the emergency can be credited not only to his own native intelligence, but also to years of being brought up by the Brandybucks, and being taught the correct responses to emergencies. No longer living with the River helped him be less subject to moods about it--and also, it is winter, and not spring, which helps.

Little Merry still misses Frodo even though it's been a couple of years. But Pippin has come, and has begun to make his own place in Merry's heart--he will never replace Frodo there, but he can cheer Merry like no one else--in much the same way that Merry himself cheered Frodo for the loss of his parents. Esme and Tina may not really understand everything about their sons' bond, but they knowo it is there, and they know how important it is.

I expect he did too. He's probably got a number of them memorized by now, and in Bilbo's style, as well.

Again, sorry for my late response to this. I'm wondering now if there are others of yours I may have missed...

SharonBReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/8/2004
I symphatize with Bilbo here. I've been struggling with my allergies, my mom having outpatient surgery and a pile of stuff at work, I know how he feels. Good to see tha Frodo could take over the story telling and had enough sense to know how to find adults to help him through this crisis.

Author Reply: I'm so sorry! I somehow missed out on this review!
Poor Bilbo never seems to get any h/c, I guess with the Ring keeping him healthy, but I thought he deserved a little TLC.
Frodo kept his head fairly well, didn't he?

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