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You Can't Share First Place  by Saoirse 4 Review(s)
Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/20/2005
So very moving. It gives Pippin such a conncetion with Faramir and deepens their relationship. Oh, have I told you how very much I love your stories? Well, if not, then let me. I love your stories!

Author Reply: Thank you so *so* very, very much! You have no idea how heartening it is for me to know that some one out there actually enjoys all my writing! I am v. v. thankful!

I have always felt that Pippin and Faramir are very similar, and their relationship has always intrigued me -- as has Merry and Eowyn's (and their sword-sister/brother devotion to one another). I think that it was good for Faramir and Eowyn to meet up with the hobbits before they met one another, and good that Merry and Pippin had such a strong friendship/love as to bring the White Lady and Faramir together!

[That Tolkien, he writes webs of meaning and destiny around everything! He really is an excellent writer... too bad not many people know of him ... lol ;) ]

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/12/2005
Oh, this was so poignant! You really captured well the feelings of someone who has to listen to something like that--you can't interfere in someone's family business, even though you'd truly like to.
I don't normally care for the idea that Pippin had a poor relationship with his parents overall, though I don't doubt his adolescence was rocky, but in this story it made perfect sense, and was very well done. I like the way you show Eglantine realizing that she is reaping the consequences of her own indifference, and wishing too late that she had done otherwise.
It certainly gives Pippin and Faramir the connection that will mean so much later on!

Author Reply: Thank you very much, Dreamflower! I am glad that you liked the way I portrayed Pippin's parental relationships in relation to Faramir... I have always felt such a thing ties those two together with such a strong cord of fellowship, something that was essential in their future.

Thank you for the review, I am very happy to receive one from you, as I always enjoy your stories immensely. ^_^

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/12/2005
What a heartbreaking, empathetic, beautiful little story.

"he remembered thinking that very same thing, when he had looked back to the Shire behind him, one long, last time..."

I love stories that bring out similarities between the characters. Pippin is such a mature, perceptive lad.

Author Reply: Thank you for picking out a line which you felt was moving, I always love when people do that. ;)

Pippin is very perceptive, I think, and not many people realize it, (except Merry, mostly) which gives that little son of a Took a shrewd advantage over others, that and those big, ol' green 'innocent' eyes! lol!

Thank you for reading this, I am very glad you enjoyed it. I am so very happy to receive a review from you, your stories always delight me to no end!

Templa OtmenaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/12/2005
That was wonderful. The way in which you book-ended it with the scenes from 'The Return of the King' was so effective.
The passage from the Shire was equally as heartbreaking and I loved the characterisations. Pippin and Merry were especially lovely to read, as were Eglantine's musings on their relationship and how jealously becomes regret as she accepts the part that she has played in her estrangelment form her son. The fact that that scene ended with Pippin happily asking for Merry was so poigniant.
I also adored the parallels that you drew with Faramir and how this forehadows Pippin saving him and a friendship to come :)
Excellent!

Author Reply: Thank you so much for your kind words!

I am very glad you liked the way I portrayed Merry and Pippin. I have always felt that Merry was sort of like a mother/brother/father/cousin/and best friend all rolled up into one for Pippin -- since he was always there for him when he was little, and is someone Pippin not only loves and enjoys the company of, but looks up to and respects. And since Merry was this to him, he always acted so, looking out for Pippin as much as getting him into unsurpassable troubles!

I have always imagined that by the time Pippin came along, Eglantine would be a bit tired of her duties as a mother (knowing that soon, she would not have to attend to the more tedious obligations of such a role, with Paladin soon to become Thain), and since Merry had always been such a warm-hearted lad he sort of took young Pippin under his wing, and ended up adoring him to no end, and getting a life-long, closer-than-brother friend! (what a bargain, heh?)

Thank you for reading this and reviewing! ^_^

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