Poor Sam. He knows his place, but Frodo doesn't want him to stay there :P I always thought their relationship was a bit of an interesting one, and I'm happy to see you made a reference to it. Well, the next day will be the big one - at least you can focus on Merry and Fatty's trip to Buckland, and them fixing up Crickhollow to make it more Bag End-ish. :)
Author's reply
Ah yes, the trip to Buckland...But *first* we have a Birthday Party to get through! I hope you enjoy it,too!
GamgeeFest
· 4 April 2004
· Chapter 18
"If he wasn’t careful, he’d lose this argument."
"If he weren’t careful, he’d give in."
hehe I love those two lines! It shows their relationship perfectly. That was a good compromise Frodo came up with. That cake sounded good!
Author's reply
Thank you. I wanted the argument to be an amicable one, but to show how stubborn both could be--Frodo because although he is well aware of what's "proper", doesn't see why he can't have his own friends his own way in his own home and "proper" be hanged; and Sam, because "proper" is the mainstay of his life, drilled in him from infancy by his Gaffer. But of course, Frodo would have to be the one to come up with a compromise; it wouldn't be Sam's "place" to offer one. 8-)
Grey Wonderer
· 3 April 2004
· Chapter 18
I am so looking forward to the gifts and the cake and more chapters of this. Glad Frodo talked Sam into having cake with everyone at least.
Author's reply
Everyone seems to like the cake. 8-) Too bad we can't share in it for real.
Pervinca
· 2 April 2004
· Chapter 17
Oh, poor Folco. At least Fatty *almost* included in the conspirators group. I mean, keeping Frodo occupied was a very important mission :P I love the way you have the hobbits interact with each other! So very well done :)
Author's reply
Well, keeping secrets would not be one of Folco's strong suits. But he has his good points.
I'm glad you like the interaction. I'm so fascinated by their relationships, I love exploring that.
Grey Wonderer
· 2 April 2004
· Chapter 17
I enjoyed the way they all used Falco to his best advantage on this one. Worked like a charm. I also like that Sam now knows everything. Thought the part where Sam was thinking how much he and Merry are alike was very good. I always thought they were both the planners in the group.
Author's reply
To me Merry and Sam are very much kindred spirits. Both of them are practical, reliable, level-headed, mostly even-tempered, and *very* protective of the ones they love. I think they recognize this in one another.
PIppinfan1988
· 2 April 2004
· Chapter 16
I am so glad you're continuing with this! :-) Great run-in with Sandyman--gives credence to his sneering remarks when they come back to the Shire. And Pippin confessing to Merry about his own little conspiracy...very nice scene. My personal favorite:
She glared at him for an instant. Then she reached up and wrapped her arms around him and began to kiss him very thoroughly. ...kissing him till his knees started to buckle. - Dreamflower
Love those little romance pieces!! I'm a sucker for "thorough" kissing scenes! :-P Will be waiting for more...
Pippinfan
Author's reply
Yes, I thought it would be good for Rosie to give Sam something to remember her by. 8-)
Pervinca
· 2 April 2004
· Chapter 16
Aw! Sam and Rosie - that was so gorgeous. I know in "The History of Middle-Earth", Rosie says she always knew Sam would come back, and this chapter gave her the perfect reason why :P Getting closer and closer to the unmasking! I think you're doing just fine. There's absolutely no reason for you to worry about breaking the cannon.
Author's reply
Thank you for the encouragement. I really want to do this right, and do justice to JRRT.
GamgeeFest
· 1 April 2004
· Chapter 16
Wow, Sam really didn't stand a chance after that kiss! Rose is so lucky. I want a Sam.
Author's reply
I have a "Sam", though that's not his name. When you find someone who is absolutely true you make sure he knows that you know it. 8-)
GamgeeFest
· 1 April 2004
· Chapter 15
Love that line about Tooks and charging bulls. Good analogy, and so true! There's no stopping a Took, especially Pippin. Merry angry would be a frightening sight, he's usually so level-headed. I can see why Pippin lost it, esp. after so many months of spying and worrying. But now they can gain up against Frodo!
Author's reply
Well, they both kind of lost it. But even an angry Merry can't deny Pippin for long. And we know Frodo doesn't stand a chance.
Grey Wonderer
· 1 April 2004
· Chapter 16
Rose was wonderful!I love that part with her and Sam in the kitchen alone.
Author's reply
I seem to set a lot of important scenes in the kitchen. Just seems right and hobbity.
Pervinca
· 1 April 2004
· Chapter 15
The chapter I've been waiting for! Poor Pippin. I never expected Merry to get that angry either, but I think he had perfect reason to! That last line was so perfect! Oh, I love Fredegar :P
Author's reply
Yes, Merry had to get angry, knowing that all those months of trying to be so careful not to give anything away was totally useless, and knowing that Pippin had to be aware of just how miserable he was.
Fatty was just as relieved as Merry and Pippin to have it out in the open finally--after all, he's been stuck in the middle. A Brnadybuck on one side and a Took on the other, never had a chance, poor fellow!
Grey Wonderer
· 1 April 2004
· Chapter 15
Was so happy to come home and find more of this one. Also so glad that Merry's anger was short-lived. I could totally see his point, but hadn't thought about it until Pippin confessed. Until then, I was too busy feeling sorry for Pippin.Now, for the tricky part, getting all of this past Frodo! You are doing a wonderful job. Look forward to more.
Author's reply
Well, at first I had his anger pass *too* quickly, which my beta pointed out; but I didn't want it to last too long either, as they had to make it up before anyone else got home. And really, Merry is so relieved now to have the secrecy over. These two don't do well with secrets between them.
Getting it past Frodo: that's tricky for me. JRRT already did it, and I have to be able to keep in line with that. I'm starting to get rather nervous about it. I still have almost another week of events to cover, and it's got to mesh with canon.
GamgeeFest
· 31 March 2004
· Chapter 14
Another great couple of chapters. It's good to get some comic relief after all this angst. I always did love bouncing on the bed when I was still young enough to do it.
Keep up the good work!
Author's reply
Thanks. I imagine that Big bed would have been as good as a trampoline to the hobbits. Don't you know how long Pippin must have been tempted!
Pervinca
· 31 March 2004
· Chapter 14
Hahaha! Great chapter here - though Fatty should watch his mouth. His mother was a Took, after all, which makes him half-Took, at least! I really love you keep working in the grudges that Lotho and now Sandyman have for our favourite hobbits. Just setting it up for the Occupation, aren't you :P
Author's reply
That's true. To be honest, I had forgotten that--I knew his relationship was on the Took side, but forgot to what degree. Still, I think that Fatty considers himself all Bolger ( though his love for Elvish tales is possibly where his Tookishness goes ) while Pippin is the quintessential Took, even though he is half Banks.
As far as Lotho and Sandyman go, well, you have to have "bad guys" after all. And those two certainly fit the bill. Besides, Sandyman always seemed to be in The Green Dragon.
Grey Wonderer
· 31 March 2004
· Chapter 14
I never thought about Frodo's leaving Bag End and his fortune to anyone but Sam. I suppose this would have made perfect sense to Frodo as he thought Merry and Pippin were staying behind. He probably thought that Sam might never return also. I love how this story is making me think! I need that! Ask anyone that knows me. LOL
Laughed a lot at the jumping on the bed bit. Very hobbit like and very Pippin!
Author's reply
Yes, that was my reasoning--Sam was going with him, and he thought Merry and Pip were not. Of course, Bag End at this point is not his to leave to anyone. ( One reason I had it upset Pip so much--poor lad is still not sure if he will go. Imagine how he'd feel to inherit under those circumstances.) Also, though Sam and Frodo are close friends, they have yet to develope the bond that they do during the quest. By the end they are closer than brothers, but that hasn't happened yet.
As soon as I decided that Gandalf had his own room with a Big bed, I knew that it would be a temptation to Pippin. It's not the last you'll hear of it either.
PIppinfan1988
· 30 March 2004
· Chapter 13
Exactly! I often depict the harvest *and* it's workers (incl. Merry & Pippin) much the same way. Merry's my hero! Bless him! But say it isn't so--this isn't the end is it??
Pippinfan
Author's reply
No, not nearly the end, but I've had to slow down a bit, let my beta catch up, and take time for a few little details of daily life.
PIppinfan1988
· 30 March 2004
· Chapter 11
Paladin was known to enjoy a wager now and then. A few evenings, he joined his son and his nephew for cards or dice. They had to be careful, however, to make sure it did not come back to Eglantine’s ears; she would have been even more disapproving than Frodo. - Dreamflower
I loved that! I always knew that Paladin liked a bit of mischief himself. It's really nice to see another writer shortening Eglantine's name to 'Tina'--I think it's a rather cute name. :-)
Pippinfan
Author's reply
I see the Bagginses and the Banks as being just a tad stodgier and more conservative than the Tooks and Brandybucks. And I think Paladin would have had a good time with them; he would not have let it go *too* far.
PIppinfan1988
· 30 March 2004
· Chapter 10
I love the premonition dream you gave Frodo; very characteristic of him!
Pippinfan
Author's reply
I'm glad people seem to like the dream. I was afraid it was too short and too vague, but I didn't want to go overboard, either.
PIppinfan1988
· 30 March 2004
· Chapter 9
Pippin's grounded for life, huh? hehehe Love that fierce determination! :-)
Pippinfan
Author's reply
Well, it probably feels that way. Paladin and Eglantine just want him at home for a while. ( He kind of might have neglected to ask permission before he went from Bag End to Brandy Hall. ) 8-)
Pervinca
· 30 March 2004
· Chapter 13
LOVED Merry's treatment of Pimple! That is just so like him. This story is getting even more interesting now that the date of the move is approaching. Have you decided on when you plan to finish it up? There are so many points that it could work, but I hope that you keep it going for as long as possible! I love this story :)
And, by the way, I agree with your thoughts on Fredegar. Offering to act as Frodo and keep up the idea that he was still at Crickhollow was incredibly brave, especially when he *knew* that there were bound to be people coming after Frodo. People don't give him enough credit :P
Author's reply
Yes, I thought it was time to give loathsome Lotho some comeuppance, and Merry was just the one to do it. Frodo feels too guilty for selling Bag End to him in the first place, besides being too polite, Sam can't do it without Frodo's say so, and Pip's too young. But Merry is perfect for the job, and enjoyed it a lot, I'm sure.
I know where I *want* to finish up, but the closer I get to the move, the slower it goes, as I don't want any conflicts with canon if I can avoid it.
Grey Wonderer
· 30 March 2004
· Chapter 13
I'm up way past bedtime and I work tomorrow but it was well worth it when I found that you'd posted another chapter. Love Merry chasing off Lotho! I am also glad that he was able to help Frodo. If I stay up even later will there be more? hehehe
Author's reply
Get some sleep if you can, you need your rest! I sometimes have insomnia and post in the wee hours, but last night, I had to wait on a load of laundry to finish, so got in one more chapter.
eiluj
· 29 March 2004
· Chapter 13
Yay, Merry!
Author's reply
Yes, Merry has his moment to shine. It was fun letting him give it to Lotho with both barrels.
eiluj
· 29 March 2004
· Chapter 10
It's wonderful to find such a great new (at least to me) fanfic author.
In this chapter, I was really struck by your detail of having Frodo store possessions at Brandy Hall; I don't think I've ever read that. Perfectly logical and in character -- as well as making the reader a little happier at Frodo's move, if there's more he *won't* lose to the S-B's.
The dream of Gandalf works well as one of Frodo's "true" dreams.
Author's reply
Yes, I am new. This is only my third story.
I did think it would be logical--and it made *me* happier. Frodo loses enough as it is. I thought I'd save a few things for him.
I'm glad you thought the dream worked well. I was afraid I had not put enough detail in it.
Grey Wonderer
· 29 March 2004
· Chapter 12
I know that Pippin does go on the quest, but when I read this story I find myself worried that he might be left behind! LOL You are capturing his feelings so well that I am forgetting how it all comes out in the end. A great story. Also feel Frodo's loss in this last one as he thinks about leaving his Bag End.
Author's reply
Oh that's such a great compliment! Thank you!
PIppinfan1988
· 29 March 2004
· Chapter 6
So sad...very nice description of everyone's anger. I failed to mention in last chapter's review that I liked how the floor in Gandalf's room was lowered, rather than the ceiling raised. Cool.
Pippinfan
Author's reply
Yes. I think Frodo might feel a bit as though he has betrayed Bilbo by selling Bag End to the S-B's, who really were quite loathsome. And of course his friends are going to be furious, but not at him, at the circumstances that have pushed him to it.
It just seemed to me that would be a hobbity way to do it, and probably easier. After all, they'd just have to dig the floors out a little deeper; a lot less work.