Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Merry's Graduation  by PIppinfan1988 8 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/9/2005
More power to him, bless Paladin's heart! He got the truth out of the children, and let Ferumbras know not to give authority and then take it away like that. Excellent Hobbit, Paladin Took!

Author Reply: Thank you, Larner! There is much more to the Paladin & Ferumbras story, but that is...lol, another story that I'm developing right now. Thank you for reading.

Pippinfan

Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/7/2005
Yay for Paladin speaking up, but no more story? :( Please update soon? Or was this the end?

Author Reply: Oh, yes--lol, there is a bit more story, though I'm still musing on it. I had most of the story all written out until I decided to give more detail--and add Ferumbras. So now I've run out of principle story and having to muse again. Now that I've finished my challenge tale (with help from Marigold), I can move forward with this tale. I hope to have another update this weekend. Thank you for stopping by to read! :-)

Pippinfan

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/5/2005
Hmm. Paladin might be becoming Thain ahead of schedule - when he polishes off his irritating cousin.

I think things will have to change in the Smials.

Paladin's children will have to learn to behave more appropriately - to a degree - but I like their spirit and courage and their support for their friends. The Thain could learn a thing or two from them.

Author Reply: To tell you a wee secret, there is a plot bunny hopping on the horizon about Paladin and Ferumbras. ;-) I really can't go into it too much in this tale because it's more a Merry or Pippin (or Degger!) story--and yes, things will be changing.

I like to think that under "normal" circumstances, the children do behave nicely. They do have spirit--and yes, they are a bit cheeky, too. Thank you for stopping by to read; I thought I had frightened you away with my chatterbox ways in my last reply. I'm behaving myself tonight. :-)

Pippinfan

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/4/2005
YEEEESSSSS, Paladin!!!! Whoo-hoo!!! You go!!
...erm...excuse me, sorry I'll try to be a bit more coherent. *clears throat*

I liked this chapter very much. I love Pervinca offering to scrub floors so Degger can study, I love Paladin digging the truth out of Merry and Pippin--at least now he knows their hearts were in the right places, even if their methods left, shall we say, a bit to be desired?

But best of all was his telling off of Ferumbras! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Author Reply: LOL! You are too funny, but I am glad that his scene got the reactions that it did. I almost toned him down, but decided to be courageous. :-P

I often imagine that the transition from farm life to the life of an aristocrat wasn't so easy for the children. Plucked up from the only life they knew and then thrust into a "society" that they knew little about. No one *likes* to scrub floors, but I'm thinking that Pervinca is finding a bit of home in her volunteer work. As for the lads, lol, I think Paladin tries to be firm with them--and he does succeed when the circumstances call for it, but right now, he's at his own wits' end because of Ferumbras meddlesome ways. Ferumbras is definitely going to get his payback...but as I told another, I've yet to decide if its in this tale. LOL, I only meant this to be a short story, but look where its gone.

I had the principle story all written out with the exception of the ending chapter, but since I gave more backstory in earlier chapters, lol, I've run out. Now I'll be just as surprised as you when I write out this next chapter.

Well, work is calling me, so the chatterbox has to get ready. Take care, and thank you for reading!

Pippinfan

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/4/2005
Way to go, Paladin! That was a show of force if ever there was one. I love the end of Pippin's poem and it was not at all what I was expecting. LOL (Mind completely in gutter, sorry.) Now, I wonder if everyone will be punished or rewarded for their efforts on Degger's behalf. Paladin has another tough choice to make. Poor Hobbit! Not even Thain and yet everything is one big decision. I am also anxious to hear what Saradoc has to say about all of this and if Miss Hemlock is simply disappointed in her students and worried about Degger or if it is something more serious. Great chapter!

Author Reply: LOL, maybe there was a bit of entrapment in the notition of Pippin's poetry...I kind of figured that's what most folks would do. *wicked grin* However, we can't have young Pippin on the road to becoming a pervert at such a young age, lol. At this point in his life, he's not yet interested much in lasses, but Merry is, so Pippin is sort of mimicking his cousin, and because he's a clever lad, he mimics very well. I'll say that Pippin's eyes were definitely on the beer...Merry's eyes were definitely elsewhere, and this is one of Pippin's ways of teasing his cousin about his "attractions".

I don't think the storm of sudden decisions is what's getting at Paladin. I firmly believe that *Ferumbras* is the reason he had such a struggle in the beginning--he was constantly being set up for failure. Ferumbras was doing everything he could think of to see Paladin fail at whatever he touched. But Ferumbras is going to get his payback...whether its in this tale, I have yet to decide.

LOL, I think all, if not most of your questions will be answered in the next chapter... Thanks for reading!

Pippinfan

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/4/2005
WOO HOO!!! You go Paladin!!

I loved the end to Pippin's poem :)

A grand and wonderful story :)

I look forward to more!!

Author Reply: Thank you, lol. I truly did not expect the reaction that Paladin's scene got. I fully expected responses to be something like, 'you could have toned him down a bit'. No one has said that at all. I will confess though, that I did enjoy writing that scene... As for Pippin's poetry...lol, I can't say that it was *good*, but it certainly got the job done. :-) Thank you for reading!

Pippinfan

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/4/2005
Things are winding themselves in ever more complicated knots - great stuff!

Author Reply: LOL, yes they are--however, I didn't start out with all of this in mind. Initially, Ferumbras wasn't so involved, but when I decided to give more backstory and there he was. Thank you for the encouragement--and for stopping by to read! :-)

Pippinfan

Garnet TookReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/4/2005
This chapter had some really great stuff in it. I loved the two lads sitting facing Paladin. Merry's thought that Pippin had been spanked was amusing.

I just so identify with your idea that Ferumbras is so enbittered. It really is time for a breath of fresh air to hit Great Smials. Ferumbras, and Lalia before him, have turned it into a place where snobbish upper-class people lord it over the servants and everyone is miserable.

Glad to see this update. Looking forward to more.

Garnet Took

Author Reply: Thank you, Garnet! I can't say that I have the corner market on the idea of Ferumbras (and Lalia) being a snoot. You and I share it with at least one other author that I know of, and I enjoy each one's take on it, too. There is always a different view on it, but essentially the same. Lalia's really showing her colors in "In the Mind's Eye"!

JRRT said that generally, hobbits indulged their children, and Paladin certainly does his, but there comes a point when shenanigans have to stop. Thank you for reading--and thank you so much for the beta! :-)

Pippinfan

Return to Chapter List