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The Brandy Hall Incident  by Dreamflower 7 Review(s)
GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/17/2005
What rotten timing! If Pippin had only stayed conscious, he would have heard his Uncle Saradoc calling him or seen the light and been able to respond and been rescued. But now - the poor lad! His lantern has gone out and he is caged in with all of that debris. I remember having been in caverns when they turn out all the lights and let you experience true total blackness - *very* scary feeling. And he's coughing more and hasn't had anything to eat or drink for almost an entire day. Poor Pippin!

Thank goodness Frodo arrived! He is probably the best one to comfort Merry until Pippin is found, although Esmerelda was doing pretty well at it. I sure hope they find Pippin soon. I don't think Merry can take much more of this.

This is such a well written, supsenseful story!



Author Reply: That was a pretty scary moment, and I remember at the time I wrote it wondering if it was a little over the top; but my original description of this incident was that Pippin was lost for two days, so I couldn't have him found so soon.

This story really is just as much Merry angst as it is Pippin h/c, I do believe.

I'm so glad that you liked the suspense.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/15/2005
Chilling thought, that they might lose Merry if anything happened to Pippin.

Milo Burrows! Good to see him again.

The significance of Merry's age just hit me when you mentioned "special magnificence" of Bilbo's upcoming birthday party.

I'm with Merry. Now that Frodo's there, everything's going to be all right.

Author Reply: I think it was always a possibility that Merry could have been lost to grief if anything permanent had happened to his little cousin. Pippin was thoroughly entwined into Merry's heart from a very young age.

Yes--this is a very important year.

You know, it's funny. I knew that Milo and his family were the guests that Esme was expecting in the first chapter, but I honestly didn't realize until I got to that point that Frodo had decided to come along for the ride. I had tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted that he *had* to be in this story--and now I can't even remember how it was supposed to have gone without him in it! He's a very stubborn Baggins.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/13/2005
What a surprise! Frodo turns up.
I really did not see this coming...
But I think Merry is right: with Frodo there, everything will be o.k.
Maybe, Frodo can figure out what happend to Pippin. I'm quite sure, Frodo also explored these tunnels, when he was young.

A wonderful story, keep on writing!

Author Reply: Actually, it was a surprise to me as well.
I'm working away at the story, and there's a tap on my shoulder:

Frodo: You know, I'm going to Brandy Hall. Merry and Pippin need me there.
Me: No, you're not supposed to be in this one. It's in early summer. You don't visit Brandy Hall in the summer. You go in the fall.
Frodo: I don't care how you work it out--you're a clever writer; think of something, because I *am* going to be in this story!
Me: But Frodo, I didn't *plan* for you to be in it!
Frodo: Well, you must have subconsciously. See, in the first chapter, Aunt Esme's expecting company!
Me: But it wasn't supposed to be *you*!
Frodo: Too bad, I'm hitching a ride. See you in the next chapter!

And of course, now I can't even imagine how I had planned the story originally! These hobbits! What *can* you do with them?

brandyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/13/2005
Aww! Frodo is here!

Frodo...make things better!

Author Reply: Of course he'll make things better!

TopazTookReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/13/2005
Ooh, ugh. Rats. Yuck. As if dank and musty tunnels weren't enough. It will be a miracle if Pippin doesn't get sick from his weak lungs before he gets out of this...your Smials' healer won't be any happier with him than Merry is.

I liked the counting rhyme in the last chapter. I'm guessing that you adapted that yourself from the "eenie--meenie--minie--mo" sorts of things?

Also liked Merry's assumption that everything will be all right now that Frodo is here. Very much a parallel to Pippin's belief in Merry.





Author Reply: Well, it seemed only logical to me that there might be rats there, and something had to frighten Pip into losing his sense of direction. I think Pippin's a bit allergic to the mustiness and moldiness there.

Yes, I wanted something that served the same function as eenie-meenie-miny-mo, but would sound more hobbity. I'm glad you thought it worked.

Very much a parallel indeed! Frodo wasn't going to be *in* this story, he just butted in and there he was.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/13/2005
They are managing Merry very well here. Good thing Frodo turns up, though. And Saradoc was so near to finding Pippin!

Author Reply: It's been hard to manage the lad, he's so very worried! Frodo insisted on going, too!
Yes, I thought that might be a bit ironic.

AuntiemeeshReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/12/2005
I'm really enjoying this! I love Merry's confidence that everything will be better now that Frodo is here, lol.


Author Reply: It's so funny that everyone has been so excited to see Frodo turn up. I had not planned for him in the story, so when he turned up, I was very surprised. He insisted he would be in this story, so I obliged him. He's very bossy.

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