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A Conspiracy of Hobbits by Dreamflower	111 Review(s)
Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 11/10/2005
Merry may be a worry-wart, but in this instance, he had every right to be worried, and for precisely the reasons he thought of. The only reason that doesn't make as much sense given the gravity of the situation is for Pippin to have been climbing a tree. But then, if one is truly concerned, one should look at every possibility. "The farmer had come to the end of his tale, and was talking with Mr. Frodo now, guessing about why someone would be looking for him. Those guesses of his were a little too close for comfort, Sam thought. From the look on Mr. Frodo’s face, he thought so too. " Ah, yes. There's more to Farmer Maggot than meets the eye. He is like Barliman Butterbur, seems like he would be uneducated and a bit thick, but is more intelligent than meets the eye. Plus, he is friends with Tom Bombadil. A little ale and a nice dinner goes a long way toward making a hobbit, including our Sam, more trustful of others, eh? lol! I'm glad for all of our hobbits, but especially for Merry's sake that the walking party has at last arrived. Author Reply: I believe his more frivolous worries, about the rain and the tree-climbing, were an effort on his part to keep the more serious worries--about someone after the others--at bay. If he could occupy his brain thinking about how Pippin might fall out of a tree, he'd be able to maybe forget the possibility of the danger of pursuit. As it was, the strategy only worked for a short while before the real worry came to the fore. At least that's what I had in mind. Ah, Farmer Maggot. He's a really intriguing character, much more mysterious than he seems from outward appearances, isn't he? Food and drink always helps with hobbits. I think they are all relieved.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/10/2005
It must have been extremely difficult for Merry and Freddy to wait for Frodo, Sam, and Pippin to arrive at Crickhollow, especially since they were so much later in arriving than expected. I'm amazed Merry waited as patiently as he did, the way he is inclined to worry over Frodo and Pippin. Pippin getting tipsy on the Elven drink - lol! It's a good reminder that he had only recently come to the age where he could have more than a half and was thus more likely to be susceptible to the effects of alcohol than the others. "Wide-eyed he risked a look at Sam, who gave him a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder." This is a wonderful moment. Sam demonstrates that warm sense of reassurance that is so comforting to Frodo later on. To see him give this same comfort to Frodo's younger cousin is a chance to see that it is not just with Frodo, but part of Sam's nature to be so comforting and reassuring in his firm but quiet way. We don't often get to see the closeness between Sam and Pippin, which makes this little moment all the more special. One of the things I liked in the book is how Pippin was the one who knew his way around better than Frodo or Sam and how it was Pippin who took control of the situation with Farmer Maggot when Frodo was afraid. As you've pointed out, it's only natural that Pippin would have accompanied Merry on his jaunts hither and yon over the years, including to Farmer Maggot's. I would think that Frodo would have known the land in Buckland pretty well, too, between his having lived there for so many years and his annual trips there to visit. However, since he was such a young lad when he left Buckland to go live with Bilbo, it's doubtful that he would be as knowledgeable about the land as Pippin, who has had more time to visit with Merry than Frodo does. "“Well, it’s time you made it up. Especially if you are coming back to live in Buckland." Hmmm... a quote of a quote. lol! But I'm glad you included this quote from the books. It must have been so difficult for Pippin to keep up the pretense that he thinks Frodo is actually going to live in Buckland again. To turn it here toward an advantage is something I really enjoyed. I like how scholarly you are making Freddy. Death is a very interesting concept for him to be reading about in that history of Numenor. And then to contemplate how the various races consider death, there's a lot of depth to Freddy. His relationship to the Bagginses is very clear. You really are blending FotR and your world together quite seamlessly. Author Reply: It had to have been hard; as much as Merry worries under normal circumstances, much less circumstances like this. But he did fall asleep for longer than he meant to, and that took up a deal of time. And I think, also that he worried that he would set out and somehow miss them along the way. But worry did win out in the end, and sent him out into the fog. Yes, Pippin's mostly accustomed to ale, and unless Merry's around, limits himself to one even then. I don't think he realized how potent Elven wine (which I think may have been a form of mead from the description) was; being the smallest it would affect him most and first. As you and I discussed in your last review, Sam and Pippin couldn't really talk; this was a way Sam could convey reassurance without saying anything, and I am sure it was much appreciated. Frodo had often walked to Buckland after leaving there, but obviously had given a wide berth to any of the lands that were near to Farmer Maggot, so that area would not be as familiar to him as the route that would lead straight to Bucklebury. And of course you are right about Pippin's familiarity--as I indicated, he and Merry had conducted their own, more successful raids, never having been caught, plus which, when Merry deemed them too old for such diversions he had gone along with Merry on legitimate business. I tried to choose quotes that would further my purpose, and not just fill it up with chunks of random quotes. I'm very glad you thought that one appropriate and apt. And yes, I did choose it for the very reason you mention. I like to think of Freddy as having an imaginative and contemplative nature. He did not become a hobbit of action until the night of the Black Riders. I am glad you think it seamless. I tried for it, except for the italics.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 11/9/2005
What a dilemma - to leave this review first or skip over to PippinHealers and read part eleven of your new story that just popped up in my e-mail! It's a good thing I loved this chapter. What on Middle Earth is Brandy Hall doing with a stockpile of extra bathing tubs? No wonder Pippin likes to visit there so much! "Buckland held so many sad memories for her husband’s cousin. But it was his childhood home, and his closest family were here, now that Bilbo had left. Maybe he had just beome lonely, rattling around that great hole all by himself. He had not always been so much a loner as he later became. When he was a small child, he had been such a delight, open, loving--the pet of the Hall. But after his parents’ death, all that had changed--he was still loving, but he was no longer open, and he did not want to be the pet of anyone except the mother and father he no longer had. It was not until Merry came along that she had again seen any joy on Frodo’s face; but even afterwards, he still had bouts of melancholy that only Merry could erase." That was so touching and sad it almost made me want to cry. How I wish that Frodo were still the open and loving hobbit he had been before his parents' deaths. "Now he felt like blubbering on his own account--this might be the last night he would spend with his family, and he couldn’t even let them know it. He had to stop this. If his parents guessed something was wrong, and pressed him, he was not sure he could lie effectively." I'm so glad Merry had this opportunity for one last night at Buckland with his parents. It must have been so difficult for him to keep it together in front of them, especially since he has always been so open with his parents. "Actually Pippin was more than a bit unsettled, he was scared, and he daren’t show it. He glanced at Sam, who shook his head." I hadn't thought of how difficult it must have been for Sam and Pippin to walk to Buckland with Frodo with all of the scary troubles they had with the Black Riders and not talk about what it really meant. For them not to be able to speak openly since Pippin supposedly didn't know what was going on - that must have been difficult for all three of them. However, I'm not so sure they would have wanted to discuss it anyway, since they were so frightened of it. And Pippin had the extra burden of not being able to even show that he was frightened for fear that when the time came to tell Frodo the truth, that Frodo would not allow him to come along on the Quest. That's an awful lot for a tweenager to carry inside of him for so long! Celandine - lol! I'm so glad you included that walking song! I couldn't help but hear Billy Boyd sing it as I read the words, even before I came to the lines that Pippin sang later on in the movie. You so nicely brought the two together and explained how there were at least two different tunes. Sung to the slower-Took melody, it really is more poignant, especially when you know what lies ahead for our hobbits on this dangerous mission. Merry's letter - sniff! Merry is a gifted writer; that letter was beautiful. His parents must have been so worried! He must have felt wretched, leaving without saying goodbye to his parents and not knowing if he would ever see them again. How horrible! And to leave his parents to explain to Pippin's parents, especially knowing the temper that Paladin has. My heart goes out to Merry. He's a great son. I loved the references to Gandalf, Elrond, Tom Bombadil, and Aragorn here. It's something mentioned in canon but which we do not get to see from Gildor's point of view. I really am enjoying this more the second time around! Author Reply: LOL! I think you are the first person to comment on the bathtubs! But Brandy Hall, by all accounts was "a warren" we are told, with a large and shifting population. And hobbits, we are told never throw things away, they just store them up as mathoms, in case they are ever needed again. I figure that perhaps when there are not quite so many hobbits living there, they store the extra tubs away, against the time when there are, or when there are lots of guests. It just seems rather a hobbity way to do things. How I wish that Frodo were still the open and loving hobbit he had been before his parents' deaths. He would, I think, have been a good deal like our Pippin, though perhaps less impulsive, as he had the Baggins in him to steady him down a bit, and enough Brandybuck to make him think things out. But to become the strong hobbit he would be when the Quest came along, he had to be tempered by tragedy and loss. When he accepted the duty of Ringbearer, he already knew what it was to lose the important things in his life, and so he could cope. Poor Merry; he really was going because of Frodo. He loved his family and Buckland, and unlike Pippin, would have been just as happy to stay there and never seek adventure, though he'd never shy away from it if it came to him, and would meet it head-on and with a strategy. As of course, he did. The walk from Hobbiton to Buckland was not going to have been easy for the three, even without putting Black Riders into the equation. As you have noted, they can't talk to one another about what's uppermost on all their minds. Though they outwardly seem light-hearted, they most certainly are not. Frodo and Sam can't talk, because Pippin supposedly doesn't know; and of course Pippin and Sam can't talk because Frodo is unaware that Pippin does know; certainly Frodo and Pippin can't talk, for each fears giving something away. How hard it must have been! But Frodo, of course, has not been "reading" his younger cousins as well, because of his own secrets. So it's no wonder he missed the subtle signs he would have noticed otherwise. For years, I have always heard that to the rather nice tune Donald Swann wrote for The Road Goes Ever On. It's fairly upbeat and jolly. But Billy Boyd's adaptation for the last verse in RotK is so poignant and haunting that I loved it as well. And many songs, especially folksongs, have more than one tune to them, so it just made sense. And I like paying small homages to the movies as long as it will not violate book canon. One problem of writing gap-fillers which overlap book-events that are shown, is the risk of just quoting huge blocks of the original, or skipping a lot of things altogether. One way around that is to use a different POV. And I wanted to show that the Elves were actually a lot more concerned and proactive than they let on to the hobbits. I'm so glad. It's a lot of fun to go over it again with you!

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/9/2005
You really do a fine job of meshing the story together with the book! I guess they really are on their way finally. "Pippin had to admit to himself he was feeling down. He hated that Frodo was being forced into this danger. He hated that Frodo had to give up everything he loved. He really hated the Sackville-Bagginses getting Bag End." It takes a lot to get the usually optimistic Pippin down, but this certainly would do it. This was very succinctly and well said. I expect that worse than an even-keeled individul's being depressed would be someone who is normally quite optimistic. They are not used to being that way and don't know how to handle it as well. I would think that this is precisely what happened to Frodo when his parents died, since Frodo's personality seems to be pretty much like Pippins, except for the tragedy in his life. But even so, as we saw in the earlier chapter, Frodo still had difficulties handling all of the upheaval in his life and found it quite paralysing. Merry has his lists and duties to help not to dwell on things for now. But Pippin, the tweenager is not accustomed to being down or depressed and with his mood swings, I expect he has fantastic highs but that when he is down, he is really down, especially since he cannot burden Frodo right now and he does not have his Merry. Now that everything is done, the only thing to do is to wait, which leaves plenty of time to think about how dire the situation really is. This is when Pippin leaves his childhood behind and starts to truly grow up. I cannot say enough about the way you are developing Freddy. He has such depth and character to him and you really lay out a very sound friendship between him and Merry. I am a bit surprised that Freddy had never met Esmerelda before, considering that they are related. I'm sure she must have met his parents, at the very least at the funeral of Drogo and Primula Baggins since they died in Buckland. Perhaps Freddy's parents used to tell him stories of what happened to Frodo's parents and that is why Freddy is so afraid of water. Hmmm... Anyway, Esmerelda reminds me of her son with her reliance upon the lists and diagrams for organising Crickhollow. Odd ending of the chapter - it almost looks like there is a part that is missing, the way you have the line under the book quote where Pippin says he is hungry for lunch. However, the last of the line about Sam looking out on lands he has never been to before works very well as the end to the chapter. Author Reply: Yes. This is pretty hard on Pippin. No Merry to confide in, and as his worries are about Frodo, he can't confide in him. Nor, really, even in Sam, as they will be in Frodo's company almost the whole trek. It has to have him very down. I'm glad you like my Freddy, and his friendship with Merry. I thought it only natural, as they will be brothers-in-law one day. Though as of yet, neither of them has any idea at all of that. You're not the first one to bring up whether Freddy might have met Esmeralda. I'm thinking that when he was a good deal younger, their paths may have crossed at the Great Smials--as at Lalia's funeral. But I'm thinking Freddy may not have remembered the introduction if any were made. The adults probably did know one another. However, there probably would have been no reason to go to Buckland for the funerals of Drogo and Primula, because the relationship was pretty distant, and given Odovocar's feeling about the River (pretty much the same as Freddy's) I don't think they would have gone. And even if they had, Freddy would only have been about two. So, yeah the parents had probably met, but no reason that their son would have met her before. Anyway, that's my take on it. I meant to take that line off. One of these days I will, LOL!

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 11/9/2005
So the story is merging together with canon - well done. "“My dear Fredegar Bolger! You are no coward--do you think so little of my judgment that I would have confided in you about the Ring if I thought you a coward.?” “Not everyone’s meant for the same kind of courage. Choosing to sit at Crickhollow like a piece of bait when you know there may be someone looking for Frodo is pretty brave, I’d say.”" Your stories always leave me wishing that we saw more of Freddy in the Trilogy. Merry's right - he does have his own particular type of courage, even though he doesn't recognise it yet. I hope to see a lot more of him in your future stories. It was very thoughtful, and intelligent, of Freddy to think about giving Merry some money to take on the venture. "Outdoors, the tweenager found a few ways to stave off the boredom. He found the empty wine bottles from the day before, and lined them up on the garden wall for targets to throw stones at. Smashing them was very satisfactory, but his speed and accuracy meant they were all broken very quickly, and then he had the tedious task of cleaning up the broken glass. (Hobbits are meticulous in the matter of glass shards.) Then he went and climbed the Party Tree. Though it was not the first time he had climbed it, it was his first chance in a long time. He could not help but think it was also his last chance. He climbed quite high, and was still up there when Folco came looking for him to call him to lunch." Excellent reference to the quick but extremely accurate aim of hobbits. I always liked the references to that hobbity characteristic in the books and am glad to see it included here. Yes, I imagine hobbits would be quite meticulous about glass shards since they go around in bare feet. I guess Frodo told Folco that he should look for Pippin up in the trees as well as in the normal places. Is this the last we will see of Pippin climbing trees? I sure hope not, as I've grown quite fond of this Tookish trait. It's very sad to see Pippin saying "goodbye" to the Party Tree and thinking of the very real and scary prospect that he might never return to the Shire. "When he opened the door, there stood Lobelia and Lotho. “You’re early,” he said rudely, and prepared to slam the door in their faces. But Frodo was behind him, and forestalled him. He did not look happy. ... “You’d be surprised, young Took, at the friends I might have. You’d best learn to keep a civil tongue in your head. Being the son of the Thain might not be protection much longer.” Lotho gave him a nasty sneer, and went out after his mother and Frodo. Pippin wondered what he meant by that. Just bluster, he supposed." I like the way Pippin treats the S.B.'s here and in his "gift" to them. Much kinder than they deserve, actually. It does give me chills though to think of the hidden meaning behind Lotho's words about the friends he has and his irreverance for the Thain. I guess Frodo really is going to leave Bag End. sigh Author Reply: I've always wished so myself--to see more of Freddy, that is. I wish that JRRT could have perhaps cut back to the Shire, for example to show us the Rebellion. Yet still, it gives us a chance to figure it out for ourselves. I suppose it was thoughtful of him to leave us so many gaps. I like that characteristic of hobbits myself. It's just about the only natural defense, besides moving quietly and being able to hide well, that JRRT gave them. Yes, the S.-B.s, well, they are pretty nasty, and they happen to be among the few people Pippin truly dislikes, because they give his Frodo a hard time. And yes, Lotho was being pretty sinister there. I had quite a few other things Pippin had planned to leave them as well, but finally decided that it would be over the top, not to mention that Frodo might notice and make him undo it. Yes. He is. JRRT said so. sigh

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 11/8/2005
This chapter was just lovely! "Frodo fit both roles. He put on a smile and a cheerful manner, but he noticed Merry’s astute and worried look. There was one person he was not fooling. “At last!” exclaimed Pippin. “The byrding’s here. Maybe we can eat now.” The tweenager eyed the table, laden with the fine fare that Frodo and Sam had been cooking all afternoon, as well as the spectacular birthday cake. “Not quite yet, young Took!” laughed Frodo. Pippin could always cheer him up." Make that two people he was not fooling. How like Pippin to use merriment and laughter to make someone, especially his cousin Frodo, feel better. It is his own unique gift and will serve all of them well on the long journey ahead. Frodo's giving of the presents was very well done. That jacket will be perfect for Sam on the long journey ahead. Folco and his flute! This adds to "The Long Road to Edoras". For once, Folco did not say the wrong thing and was perfect in expressing his gratitude. Simply lovely. Freddy's gift is certainly something that will appeal to him, especially now that he is discovering his bravery in expressing his intelligence. And "The Lay of Gil-Galad" - sort of a representation of the adventure they are going on, yes? The book will mean so much to Freddy. It is a shame that Merry and Pippin cannot tell Frodo that they know he is giving all of them his most prized possessions. Poor Frodo is giving them his dearest things as a way to remember him by, as well as to cut more of his ties to the Shire. Fewer treasured possessions means that he has that much less to come back to and makes it easier for him to face the long road ahead. More importantly, by giving them tokens of himself, he is starting to say "goodbye" to his two dearest friends and cousins. But Merry and Pippin know what he's doing and must be having a rather difficult time not telling Frodo that what he is doing is not necessary because they are going with him. It was no accident that Frodo chose to give them things that were not only his, but had been given to him by Bilbo. He is tying all of his fondest memories together. So Frodo and Merry each gave each other pipes on their birthdays, eh? And to give Pippin that dear scarf - I remember reading that story! Interesting that Frodo was able to notice the depth of Pippin's heartfelt emotional reaction. Of course, Pippin's reaction is not just to Frodo giving him the scarf, but it is the first time since learning of Frodo's plans that Pippin is able to hug his dear older cousin and express how much he means to him and how upset he is about what is to happen, even though Frodo chalks it all up to the receipt of the scarf. I'm sure Merry felt the same way, but expresses it in a Brandybuck manner rather than in a totally Took manner. That feast they had - so much food! I know they are hobbits, but they must have had so many leftovers to take on the road. I remember Frodo's noodles with cheese! The cauliflower with milk and nutmeg sounds rather interesting. And the lentil soup ... well, now I'm just getting myself hungry and here it is almost dinnertime. "Pippin just winked at him. “At least it’s cheered Frodo up,” he whispered. And of course, now Merry could not be annoyed with him at all." Cheering themselves up with songs and stories from their past is a wonderful idea. Once again, it's wonderful to see Pippin allowing himself to be made fun of in order to try to cheer his cousin Frodo up. Pippin really is sweet and generous at heart must be a real joy to be around. I remember that story about Merry! I see now where the plot bunny germinated from. It was very amusing, both in this short form and in its own separate story. I really enjoyed the obvious delight that the cousins got in telling the stories about each other. We've all been there when the family stories are dragged out and one or another family member is embarassed, much to everyone's delight. And I'm glad Freddy got to make the toast to the byrdings. He's such a wonderful character! Unfortunately, Gandalf's mysterious absence and the unknown dangers ahead casts a dark shadow over the joyful events. Even so, it was wonderful to see this last happy celebration at Bag End before our four hobbits' world is forever changed. Author Reply: Wow! I keep saying that about your reviews, but Wow! You manage somehow to hit onto all of my own favorite high spots of the chapter. Poor Frodo is giving them his dearest things as a way to remember him by, as well as to cut more of his ties to the Shire. Fewer treasured possessions means that he has that much less to come back to and makes it easier for him to face the long road ahead. More importantly, by giving them tokens of himself, he is starting to say "goodbye" to his two dearest friends and cousins. But Merry and Pippin know what he's doing and must be having a rather difficult time not telling Frodo that what he is doing is not necessary because they are going with him. It was no accident that Frodo chose to give them things that were not only his, but had been given to him by Bilbo. He is tying all of his fondest memories together. That is exactly the reaction I was going for, the fact that in spite of their being still at cross-purposes, since Frodo doesn't know what they know, the deep felt love is still there, still being expressed as well as they can. And you have nailed Pippin's reaction perfectly, as well. This is the one time that he came even close to giving anything away, because he was just so overcome with emotion. I sometimes wonder about my habit of giving myself plot-bunnies out of my own stories. But so often these little anecdotes just seem meant to find their way into stories of their own. And of course Gandalf's absence is a shadow over it all, one put there by JRRT himself, and thus not to be ignored.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/8/2005
I forgot to comment on Pippin's not leaving a note for his family and everyone joking about the way the Thain was apt to fly off the handle. Merry was right about it being good that Pippin did not leave a note. Paladin is a very good hobbit, but one who loves his son very much and would be none too pleased to see him going off with Frodo and Merry on a very dangerous quest from which he may never return. Pippin should know exactly how his father would react, since he is precisely the same way. "“Ah. There you are! Fatty, Folco, we need you. Frodo, don’t you stir from this room, I’m shutting the door, and don’t you dare look out the window either.” So Frodo sat alone listening to the voices in the hall. “Careful, Sam!” “Mr. Merry, hold your side up a little higher.” “Oi, watch the wall!” “Pippin, get the door, quick!” The sounds faded off in the direction of the dining room. After a moment, Fatty stuck his head in the study. “Frodo, could you come to the dining room please?”" Subtle. Very subtle. "“Thank you very much, it’s a work of art.” Frodo hesitated. “I hate to mention this, lads, since you’ve gone to such effort--but, isn’t that rather an awful lot of cake?” Merry, Fatty, Folco and Sam stared at the cake as though they had never thought of that before; but Pippin, who was notorious for his sweet tooth, grinned wolfishly. “It is, isn’t it?”" I can just picture that grin on Pippin's face as he says that! Just what the Took needs, lots of sugar so he's bouncing off the walls. I really loved the entire scene between Frodo and Sam. Favourite lines from that scene: "Frodo tossed the garlic into the skillet, watching carefully; nothing worse than scorched garlic. After a moment, he splashed in a dollop of Old Winyards. After a second’s thought he splashed some of the wine into a cup for himself." Ah, shades of "Frodo’s Cooking Lesson"! Stuffed mushrooms! To quote Bilbo: "“... you must always have a bit of the wine, when you make this dish, just to be sure that it is quite all right!”" "And it is my party. I should have whom I like.” Frodo frowned. That last sentence had sounded pouty and childish. If he wasn’t careful, he’d lose this argument. Sam shook his head as he lifted the chickens onto the fire. If he weren’t careful, he’d give in. He hated when Mr. Frodo used that sad, forlorn tone of voice." Great juxtaposition! The two of them, thinking pretty much the same thing, but from opposite sides of the argument. The entire conversation between Sam and Frodo was quite enjoyable and showed what a close relationship it was, even though the really close bonds between them had yet to be formed. Author Reply: I had a lot of fun writing the part about the cake. And again, you are seeing the first appearance of something that is part of my Pippin--his sweet tooth and his hyper-activity. And the story "Frodo's Cooking Lesson" was another one that found its origins in this story, as I wanted to show the first time Frodo made these. It is so neat, that you have read the other stories already. You are really the first reviewer who has that perspective of all the long history of the friendship of these four. I'm so glad you liked Frodo's and Sam's argument. They are good friends and know one another well (though, as you said, not the bond they will later have) but Sam does not want to cross that invisible line called "proper", while Frodo is a stubborn Baggins. I thought this would be exactly the kind of argument they would have under the circumstances.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 11/8/2005
Well, it seems Merry and Pippin are enjoying not having any secrets from each other again! Those two need each other. It kind of makes you wonder how they can live so far apart from each other and manage to see one another for such long periods of time. "Fatty laughed. “Of course, that is my Folco we’re talking about.”" I really enjoyed the endearing way Freddy spoke of Folco. You can't help liking Folco once you understand him. "“Oi,” said Pippin indignantly. “I am sitting right here, and I am not just a piece of the furniture.” “If you were,” grinned Merry “you would not be going, so there! Don’t interrupt.”" LOL! I sure hope that if Pippin were a piece of furniture at Bag End that Merry would have tagged him to be sent along to Crickhollow or at least to a mathom room at Brandy Hall. Can you imagine Pippin if he were sold to the S.B.'s? Actually, I don't think the S.B.'s would stand a chance against him. lol! "“Mr. Merry, I just don’t know. He is a wizard. But I think his main idea is to keep Mr. Frodo safe. If you can convince him you will be a help and not a nuisance, then I think he’ll probably say yes. Only thing is, I’m not sure Mr. Frodo will; he’s right fond of you two, and won’t take kindly to the idea of taking you into danger, begging your pardon, Mr. Pippin, but especially you.”" Sam certainly knows Frodo and how he feels about things. He also has a pretty could handle on how Gandalf would feel. "Sam nodded. He always knew Mr. Merry was level-headed and practical, a lot like himself, in fact." It's good to see that Sam approves of his own personality traits! He's right, of course, Merry and Sam are both quite the level-headed and practical hobbits. It's so weird to see them talking about events that take place in the book when we already know what will happen. If only the worst thing on the trip from Bag End to Crickhollow were trying not to let their plans slip to Frodo. It would be nice if they didn't encounter Black Riders on the way. But then again, that would change the story and we wouldn't really want that to happen. You are very adept at mixing canon with your own story. Well done. Author Reply: Yes, Merry and Pippin are very relieved and happy to have the secrecy over with, that they just have to get their high spirits out. Freddy does know Folco; he probably knows Folco as well as Merry knows Pippin. He especially knows Folco can't keep a secret, LOL! So it's not hard for him to make use of him in this case. I know it was something I had to constantly keep in mind: whatever we know about what's going to happen, the characters don't. It makes foreshadowing tricky, too easy to overdo it, yet you really can't avoid it altogether. I know that I felt like I was tight-rope walking, writing these last few chapters that more and more had to blend with canon. It was really hard work.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/8/2005
Rosie knows her Sam so well. She knows just how to get him to stop talking nonsense about her finding someone else. There's no way he could think of telling her to find someone else after that kiss. Author Reply: She certainly does. grin As I mentioned previously, I am very influenced in my Rosie by that scene that was in an Epilogue JRRT cut out--I thought it was in Unfinished Tales, but it turns out it's in Vol.4 of HoME, The End of the Third Age I don't know if you've seen it, it's lovely: All the children were in bed. Lights were glimmering still in Hobbiton and in many houses dotted about the darkening countryside. Sam stood at the door and looked away eastward. He drew Mistress Rose to him, and set his arm about her. March the twenty-fifth!" he said. "This day seventeen years ago, Rose wife, I didn't think I should ever see thee again. But I kept on hoping." "I never hoped at all, Sam," she said, "not until that very day; and then suddenly I did. About noon it was, and I felt so glad that I began singing. And mother said 'Quiet lass! There's ruffians about.' And I said 'Let them come! Their time will soon be over. Sam's coming back.' And you came. "I did," said Sam. "To the most belovedest place in all the world. To my Rose and my garden." They went in, and Sam shut the door. But even as he did so, he heard suddenly, deep and unstilled, the sigh and murmur of the Sea upon the shores of Middle-earth. sigh And that's how it should be writte. We've a lot to live up to.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/7/2005
Finally! I've been waiting so long to read this chapter! "Which left Merry and Pippin alone at Bag End." This alone tells you something big is about to occur. "“Merry?” “Yes, Pip.” He didn’t turn around, but kept on with putting apples in a bowl. “The way I see it, you have three choices: you can try to leave me;” Merry went still. “you can try to stop me, which means you don’t go either;” Merry stiffened. “or you can take me with you and Frodo when you go.” Merry turned around in shock. “How long have you known?” he whispered. “Ever since you were down at the Smials in spring, when Alyssum was born. I eavesdropped on you and Fatty.” Merry dropped into the nearest chair. His face was white as paper, except for two bright red spots on his cheeks, and his eyes blazed. “You wicked wretch!”" You set scenes up so well! And you worry about the amount of details you have in your descriptions. It's perfect! This scene reads like I'm watching it happen live before my eyes. My favourite portion is when Pippin explains Merry's three choices to him. Poor Merry! No wonder he went still and then had to drop into a chair and turned white! "Now Pippin was in shock. He had not expected Merry to be angry at him. Not annoyed, or irritated, or fussed or upset--this was real anger. Only three times before in his life had it happened: when he was eight and climbed so high in a tree he could not get down; when he was eleven, and got himself lost in the back tunnels at Brandy Hall for two days; and when he was twenty, and on a dare from a couple of his Banks cousins, had gotten so drunk he nearly died. This makes four, he thought miserably. “Merry?”" “You knew! All those months I was worried sick about leaving you, you knew!” Merry grabbed Pippin hard by both wrists. “You don’t have a clue as to what danger is involved here!”" Wow - for Merry to be that upset at Pippin... that's a major event and speaks volumes as to how upsetting this entire thing has been for Merry. Keeping his Pippin in the dark must have been pure torture for him. "Pippin wrenched his arms away. Now his own anger kindled. “You always think you know what’s best for me! You always try to protect me! It never occurs to you that I might like to make my own decisions once in a while! I love Frodo, too! You’re not the only person in the world who cares about him! And you were planning on leaving me without so much as a goodbye!” “Well, obviously that would have been useless, since you knew exactly what was going on. Was it funny watching me suffer? Did you get a laugh out of all my sleepless nights? How do you think I felt, knowing I might never see you again? How could you do that to me?” This was too much for Pippin. He burst into tears and threw himself at his cousin’s feet. “I’m sorry, Merry! Please, please forgive me--I can’t bear it if you’re angry! But I couldn’t take the chance you’d leave me. Life wouldn’t be worth living in the Shire if you and Frodo both left me!” Curled up on the floor, he sobbed so hard that his stomach hurt. After several moments he felt Merry’s familiar hand upon his head." There is such strong emotion running throughout this scene that it is extremely palpable. I can feel it on my skin as I read it and even as I reread it for the umpteenth time. Both cousins really lost it. Actually, I think they both needed this type of catharsis with each other after all these months of deceiving one another. "“I’m sorry, Pip. I should not have been so angry. But I’ve been so desperately worried about leaving you.” He reached down and raised his cousin up for a quick embrace. “”Yes. Well.” Pippin got back in his chair, wiping his face with a sleeve. “You don’t have to any more because you’re not.” “Can we discuss that?” “Of course we can. But the answer won’t change. No different than if Frodo tries to tell you that you’re not coming.”" Such perfect exchanges between them! They know each other so well. "“You do know that this journey could be more dangerous than dragons? It‘s not the kind of adventure we used to talk about having.” “I know about--the Ring--if that’s what you mean.” Pippin’s face was sober. “I know what it will mean if it stays; I know that danger will follow after it when it goes.” “I see. Well, I guess you’re in, though you may wish yourself out before it’s over.” Actually, they might all of them wish themselves out, but it was no longer an option." Quoted just because I like this passage so much. Okay, I really like the entire chapter and am quoting just about the whole thing back to you, but that's what happens when you write such brilliant chapters. And this one was one of the best! Still, I'm glad you have them admitting to each other the seriousness of the situation and just how dangerous it actually is. Last bit of quoting, because we can't forget Freddie: "...the amount of flour in their hair and clothing bore mute witness to the fact that at some point they had gotten a bit carried away. Fatty looked at Merry and Pippin, looking more carefree than he’d seen them in days. “Well, Pippin, you must have confessed.” “I’m sorry Merry, but he already knew.” Merry laughed. “Well, that’s that then. A Bolger trying to talk a Took out of something--rather like a rabbit trying to keep a bull from charging, I’d say.”" I love how Freddie gets to be there to witness the flour all over Merry and Pippin and see how the tension has cleared. I'm sure all three of them feel much better now that they don't have to keep so many secrets from each other. I know that I'm happier now that all of that tension is gone. Another scene that makes me want to get out my sketchpad and draw it. Of course, I'm not drawing any of these scenes until after I've finished with reading all of your stories. Rather selfish, but I don't want to take the time out to draw the scenes when I can be reading them instead. You've really outdone yourself with this chapter. With the internet not working at home, I have been reading the Trilogy again at night (when not watching the movie version). I've found that having read your stories through once and now reading them again has enhanced my reading and understanding of the Trilogy as I read through it a second time. I'm picking up on more of the relationships between the four hobbits and more about their various personalities as well as some of the events. I've also found the reverse to be true. As I read the Trilogy again, I find that it has been helping me to appreciate your stories more and the care and detail to canon that you give them. This really has been an invaluable way to read and devour both the Trilogy and your stories. I must say that I am enjoying one as much as the other. Author Reply: Wow! I just don't know what to say after a glowing review like this. It makes me feel very warm and happy, yet a little bit humble as well, to know you liked it that much. I will say that this chapter was a pivotal one for me, as well as for Merry and Pippin. It set up for me so much of what their past and their future would be in my stories and in my Shire. For example, that little paragraph about the times Merry had been angry with Pippin--until that came into my head, I had not realized that about them, that Merry was almost never angry with Pippin,and that the only times he had been before, was because of Pippin endangering himself. This just told me volumes, and ended up being the inspiration for three seperate stories: "The Dare", "The Brandy Hall Incident" and "A First Time for Everything". The fact that as soon as the secrets were gone their connection with each other was renewed, symbolised by their baking together--this was the first time, really that they got flour all over each other, but now it became something that happened every time. And some of their little phrases and things, all came together in this chapter of this story, and has guided me throughout all the subsequent stories I wrote, including all the stories you have read up until now. And I cannot tell you how flattered I am that you say my story has helped your understanding of canon and vice-versa. One of the main reasons I write these stories is to explore aspects of canon that we know little about. Wow! Thanks!

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