Rosie-Ann
· 24 May 2004
· Chapter 9999: Epilogue...Thank You
*melts* Ok, I've sat up about two hours trying to finish this story - you almost brought me to tears at a few points!
I love how you've written Merry and Saradoc's relationship, and when you mention how he says "Master of the Hall" and Theoden's being "like a father", well it all makes sense!
And indeed, bless the Professor for leaving these holes - my own thanks is for the question of how the Conspirators from FotR got together. *wink*
Keep writing, my dear, and I'll keep reading! I'm off to the next story, whichever one I pick.
~Rosie-Ann
Rosie-Ann
· 8 May 2004
· Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty Two
Wow, this is such an amazing piece! I've sat here all afternoon reading it, and "Where the Roses Grow". You are an amazing author, keep writing!
I have no problem with your Saradoc, we don't know anything about Merry's dad, really, so it's not impossible. I mean, Baylor wrote about Merry having two older sisters who died of some sickness when they were very small, and figured that at the time of the writing of the Red Book, no one would put them in the family tree because of the grief it would cause the family.
But I'm rambling. Good work!
~Rosie-Ann
Author's reply
And *you* are an amazing reader! Good gracious me! All afternoon? On MBD and Roses? I'm staggered--for the second time today! While you were reading, I was mowing my backyard and planting my rose bushes! LOL...
I can't remember if I put an author's note in the story, but I feel like you; we don't know about Merry's homelife. I got my inspiration for this premise from LOTR and my own personal experiences. What most people dislike about my portrayal is that Saradoc is cold towards his son--they believe it very unhobbit-like. As some of my friends have pointed out, JRRT didn't mean for the Shire to be characterized as a Utopia. Thank you, Rosie-Ann (I love that name!) for all your encouragement--it means the world to me.
Pippinfan
MysteriousWays
· 3 May 2004
· Chapter 40: Chapter Forty
Pardon me, i need a tissue. *sniff Sniff*
that was so lovely.
How am I supposed to get anything done today, I want to read more.
It is beautiful.
Mys- Moderately comprehensible
Author's reply
Here's some cyber hankies... I offered them in Rags, too. You'll be fine...take a deep breath. You know I'm only jesting! I *sincerely* thank you for your wonderful response to MBD. Master of Comforts and From the Bottom of My Heart are fics later after Merry and his dad reconcile; Merry is 26 in both. I really ought to write something when it all starts to come together. So deep. Thanks again!
Pippinfan
I am so loving this story. Having a lovely mornign reading it, I am. However I have to ask, why the bold faced print that is underlined?
Pardon me, I need to go see if Merry is ggoing to forgive his father. I hope he does. Saradoc is trying so hard and allowing himself look like a total dork for the cause. He is adorable.
Mys- Rooting for Saradoc.
Author's reply
Ah...I was new at SOA and didn't preview this chapter...it's fixed. I almost always preview now. Thank you, Myst for taking the time out of your busy day with your little munchkins to read and review one of my oldie but goodies--even if it lacks in the writing skills dept. Thanks! :-)
Pippinfan
MysteriousWays
· 3 May 2004
· Chapter 34: Chapter Thirty Four
Ditch the authors note at the end of this chapter. You don't need to appologise for anything. (hugs)
Mys
Author's reply
Hehehe...you want to know what originally was in there?? I was really venting when I initially wrote this for ff.net! :-P Towards the beginning, when Merry and Pippin have the tomato fight, Merry and Pippin were really letting loose with the four letter wordss. I felt I needed to change those...words. Did you catch that other little piece of information--'hang in there folks, the end is coming'! I might delete it...I must think on it.
Pippinfan
MysteriousWays
· 1 May 2004
· Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty Three
PippinFan!!!
Dahling! I hearby publicly proclaim you are one of my all time favorite writers. I know you feel your work is not the best, and yes I can to a certain extent see why. However, I think see things in a truer light than you do. Artists are the harshest critiques of their own work. It is the flavor of what you write that I really love. It speaks to me.
Mys
Beautiful! I enjoyed every moment of it. Thank you for a very entertaining read and a look in the mirror! LOL It was fun seeing things from the other POV.
Author's reply
Why thank you--truly a compliment coming from someone who's extrememly talented! I, too, am enjoying the different perspectives while reading your stories! Your stories are very good, and you are very creative! Thanks again.
PF
Grey Wonderer
· 22 January 2004
· Chapter 39: Chapter Thirty Nine
Things are going quite well! Why to go Saradoc. Maybe your Saradoc can give lessons to my Paladin! LOL I like the wagon story by the way.
Author's reply
Nah! Paladin (in your story) and Saradoc are butts for very different reasons. I purposely made my Saradoc's reason to be open to reconciliation. Paladin is a butt for an entirely different reason. I suppose you could have Paladin and Pippin reconcile, but...wow--that would be interesting, huh? :-X I *can* say that each character is unique in their buttness!
PF
Very realistic the way Merry is holding back with a wait and see attitude. He is right to be careful. Very well-written chapter. I like Pippin's sisters very much in this one.
Author's reply
I agree. In fact, if it wasn't for Paladin, Merry wouldn't have given Saradoc a second look. People are different; some hold grudges for years while others--like me--are generally forgiving...though we may never forget.
I have learned over the years that humor can make a very tight situation bearable. Thanks.
PF
Grey Wonderer
· 20 January 2004
· Chapter 32: Chapter Thirty Two
I am so glad that Merry got to see his mom. She seems very nice and I know she has missed him. Another great chapter! Going off to read more now.
Grey Wonderer
· 20 January 2004
· Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty Six
I think she's right, that wasn't the end of the conversation! I don't know what to hope for at this point. Merry should have his father, but Paladin has been that for so long how can this go well? Help me out here. LOL
Grey Wonderer
· 20 January 2004
· Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty Four
This is very good! I love that they are now having a happy moment. I think Merry needs that right now. Keep posting. It's very good!
Author's reply
Yes, I believe he did, too. There were some lighter moments, but they really didn't do the story any good, so I took them out. When I'm finished, I will post the re-edited actual story on ff.net, and give anyone the link should they want the whole story. Trust me, they were nice moments, but didn't really follow the storyline. Thanks, GW, for your reviews and input!
PF
Oh, my! Saradoc has been through quite a heart-ache. It isn't fair to Merry, but it explains so much! I am enjoying this story and I am glad that Merry now knows the truth. At least he will see that it is nothing that he has done. Well, off to read more.
Poor Frodo! Seems like he is the one with all of the headaches in your fiction too! LOL I love this story, but I do hope that Saradoc doesn't take Merry home! I know that won't be a good thing judging by the first part of this story. Off I go to read more.
babzee
· 19 January 2004
· Chapter 20: Chapter Twenty
Your story is compelling, and I'm enjoying it very much.
But you need to do some more editing or maybe have someone beta it, to catch little mistakes like this one:
Paladin quietly gently Merry’s back while he sobbed into his pillow.
I'm looking forward to reading more and seeing how this story ends.
Author's reply
Thank you, and I know I shouldn't be editing late in the evening, but that's just what I was doing last night...so sorry. I was tired and shouldn't have been editing, but I was and I did. Thanks for pointing that error out and I will go back and comb over the entire chapter...when I wake up more fully! :-X
Beta? (Smiling) Are you volunteering?? Because I sure could use one, but I don't know of any... It's not so bad editing other's work, but it's difficult doing your own projects because as a friend put it, your mind is already inserting the words... Thanks again.
Pippinfan
Author Reply: Oh...! Boy, you were right--I caught more than one error myself. Hope I got them all. My apologies for posting that one so wrecklessly. The next time I feel myself too tired to edit, I promise to put my pen down.
Pippinfan
A head injury! This is familiar! Where have I seen this before? LOL I just continue to be amazed by this. It's the same and yet it's not. Even Pearl is there looking after Pippin and once again Frodo has to send word to the unloving father! Only this time it's Saradoc! Do I know you from a past life or something? I'm reading more now!
Author's reply
LOL...Yeah, I was going to put a footnote in there saying Rags and MD were the only two stories I had with Merry getting a knock on the noggin (poor little guy!), but your hint seems to say you've got one as well...and it looks like I'm coming up on it. I'm on chapter 28...I think, and I AM going back as soon as I'm finished here.
Oh, you had me rolling! I've beenn wanting to ask you the same thing! My gosh, neither of us met until a couple days ago, and Wham! Our stories connect beyond belief! Too cool! I love this! Thanks for all your reviews!
Pippinfan
I can't wait for more. I am like Pippin and am trying to decide what Merry will decide to do. He has two good offers now so I am thinking it will be a though choice. I think that Paladin might just turn the decision in the Took direction as Merry seems to love him dearly. Hope Merry and Pippin haven't broken anything with that fall.
Author's reply
Hang in there, girl! You'll have your answers soon enough! :-)
Grey Wonderer
· 18 January 2004
· Chapter 10: Chapter Ten
Way to go, Pippin! Troll's backside! hehehehe! This party is staring to get interesting. I need more ale and then I can read more. But wait! There isn't any more right now. Maybe someone will take pitty on me and post again soon. Cheers to you too!
Grey Wonderer
· 18 January 2004
· Chapter 9: Chapter Nine
I just love it when Pippin sings! LOL I am now wondering just how much ale he will manage to have during this party. I hope Merry is having a good time too. I know I am enjoying the party!
I am still sad for poor Merry! This is so very good. I was happy the Pim got her party invitation and that there was even one for Pippin. You shall hear from me again. Bye!
Grey Wonderer
· 17 January 2004
· Chapter 6: Chapter Six
Hey! Where's the rest????? LOL I wrote a short review so I could read more, but there isn't anymore. That is just not acceptable. LOL Hope you will be posting again soon. I want to know:
1. Why is Saradoc so very mean?
2. Is Pim going to get her invitation to Frodo's party?
3. Is Merry going to let Paladin help him?
4. What is Pippin's next prank going to be?
5. Who's Merry's lass, the one he kissed?
You just left a few things unanswered didn't you? Will be waiting for more chapters.
Author's reply
I've just posted a couple more--I just don't want to deluge everyone at one time. As the story is already written, I'm just scrubbing the idiot-ness out of the text. Hey "Road" was your first, this was my third. I was just getting the hang of it all by this time, but my grammar was (and still is) atrocious.
As for your questions, #5: she's just a lass...no one who gets involved with the story. #'s 2 and 4 are in the next chapter. #'s 1 and 3 will be answered as the story goes along. Number 1 is more towards the end. I'm staying busy with the story I'm writing and scrubbing this one...and another to scrub waiting in the wings. Are you keeping "busy" as well?? I have you on my alert list, so I know you are! :-) Thanks for all your reviews!!
Pippinfan
Grey Wonderer
· 17 January 2004
· Chapter 6: Chapter Six
Pim and Pippin are great together. Love how Pim is worried about Pip even though she is angry with him. I am still worried about poor Merry.
Author's reply
This is a very angsty story...you'll be worrying about him for a long while...this is a monster story like yours! Hang in there!
Grey Wonderer
· 17 January 2004
· Chapter 5: Chapter Five
Poor Merry! I love this story. So glad that you posted this.
Author's reply
I've said before elsewhere, that Pippin in my most favoritest hobbit, and Merry breezes in just a hair's breadth behind him. Can't have one without the other, and I do love Merry, too.
Grey Wonderer
· 17 January 2004
· Chapter 2: Chapter Two
Ah, yes the joys of smoking, LOL! Very funny!
Author's reply
I smoked for a very short time in my life a very long time ago. I can't say that I had the same experience as Pippin (this time), but it's not a good habit to pick up! Thankfully I was able to quit cold turkey, but then again, I only smoked a pack a week? (snickering)
Pippinfan