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It's Nothing Really...  by Dreamflower 7 Review(s)
Celeste Lucretia BlackReviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/14/2021
Maybe they should make a splint for Merry

GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/1/2005
"Pippin simply sat and smoothed the curls on Merry’s brow. It not only comforted Merry, but it seemed to help calm himself as well."

Such a lovely image - we always see Frodo and Merry brushing Pippin's hair back and soothing him. It's nice to see Pippin being the one soothing his cousin. All three of them get so much out of such a simple physical gesture as smoothing the hair or rubbing of the back. It's like food for their souls.

Pippin stood up, but pushed Merry back. “You stay where you are, Meriadoc Brandybuck!”

HA! Pippin ordering Merry around! He certainly has taken charge of things and won't relinquish it until Frodo is actually there.

Butter and pickle sandwiches? That sounds awful!

"“Good night, sprout,” he whispered, using the special baby-name for his cousin that he never dared say aloud any longer to this nearly grown tween."

Ah! The perfect opportunity to tell you something! Since the first time I read Frodo's endearing nickname for Merry in your stories, I've loved the name. In fact, I'm so taken with it that I started calling my twelve year old niece who I'm raising "Sprout" in the same fashion. When I explained about the nickname to her, she was thrilled, especially since her favourite hobbit is Merry.



Author Reply: "It's like food for their souls."

When it comes to touching, very much so. I just read a lovely Cormallen fic, and the author described the hobbits' needing physical touch the way they needed to breathe.

Pippin has learned what to do with someone sick or injured from being on the receiving end of the care all these years. No one knows better than he that sometimes the patient has to be ordered around "for his own good". And he might be getting a *wee* bit of satisfaction at having the tables turned for once, though I'm sure he'd never consciously think of it that way.

Aww! That's so sweet! Thank you for telling me that. *melts into puddle of goo* Give your niece a hug from me!



LarnerReviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/21/2005
Ah, the sweet, competent Frodo. A blessing on him for his care and diligence and swift intelligence when considering the actions of his cousins. And hope Noakes regrets drinking so heavily! Heh!

Author Reply: Fortunately he knows his cousins well, and could anticipate Merry's probable route. And he is rather competent--after all, most of his formative years were spent under Sara's competent tutelage as well.

I certainly hope he regrets it. I hope he has many a sleepless night remembering that blue-eyed glare, and worrying about what the Master and the Thain are going to do...

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/19/2005
'It seemed like a good idea at the time!' Famous last words for teen/tween-agers of all ages and especially for our two famous characters called Merry and Pippin! But we love then all the more for it! But we will all sleep just a little more soundly knowing they now have Frodo with them against the world!

Author Reply: 'It seemed like a good idea at the time!' Famous last words...

LOL! Kind of like "It couldn't possibly get any worse" and "Wait for me, I'll only be a minute..."

These three against the world--what a picture!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/19/2005
Oh, I am so glad Frodo has found them! It will be so much easier for Merry and Pippin to be not alone during the night, they would probably sleep very little but lying awake and worrying what to do! And he has the much needed food with him - he knows them too well!

Author Reply: Ah, they will all be the happier for a night spent together. And the food is no small matter!!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/19/2005
“Good night, sprout,” he whispered, using the special baby-name for his cousin that he never dared say aloud any longer to this nearly grown tween.
(Awww. Touched the heart, that did.)

So glad to see Frodo arrive! And glad to see the TBC at the bottom of the chapter as well, for you might very well have wrapped up the story with Frodo finding them... but of course it would leave the reader asking all sorts of questions.

Author Reply: Yes, Merry will always be Frodo's little sprout, even when he ends up overtopping him by a head after the Ent-draught.

No, I would not have just left off with Frodo's arrival. He has to get his cousins safely home to Bag End now.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/19/2005
Protected adventure - in the care of One Who Knows - is one thing, but Pippin and Merry are on their own. I suppose it could be looked on as good training, but I suspect the arrival of Frodo was a huge relief to both. Merry, because he was in no position to protect Pippin - and Pippin, because he is too young and inexperienced to feel able to look after Merry properly.

I suppose Mr Noakes can be forgiven - because he did at least go and tell Frodo that he had lost the two cousins. If he had just decided to continue on his hung-over way, Frodo wouldn't have known to go and look for them - and they would have been without food until Pippin managed to find help on his own.

And there's no doubt that they will sleep more soundly for having Frodo in charge.

Author Reply: Yes, this is not a ramble to Buckland or walking trip with Frodo along. Although if there had been no mishap, the trek from Frogmorton to Hobbiton should not have taken them terribly long. Perhaps a night in the open, as Pippin can't travel as quickly as Merry might on his own, but nothing too dreadful. They should, perhaps, not have eaten up all their food at lunch, but what the hey, they're tweens.

However, Merry's accident changed everything, and you are 100% correct about their reactions. Frodo's arrival is a huge relief to Frodo, as well, since I am sure he had begun to imagine all sorts of dire things.

I am quite sure Noakes knew what would happen if he *didn't* report that he'd lost Merry and Pippin. His name is mud already, as far as Frodo, Saradoc and Paladin go. But if he'd just ignored the issue--well, I am quite sure the Shire at large would have held him to blame.

They will definitely sleep more soundly with Frodo there; so will Frodo.

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