Great chapters! I could just picture the gift-giving scene and the dialogue in it was very well-written. The puzzle-box was interesting and a great way to tie all your different stories together. Excellent job!
...Tialys
Author's reply
Sometimes I worry that my characters are talking too much. I am glad you enjoyed the dialogue and that it helped you picture the scene. I am too attached to that puzzle box. I told someone else that it is almost like an OC in these stories, but it does give them a connection. Thank you for all of the kind words.
Hai Took
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 6: To and From
Everyone knowing that Pippin was hiding under the bed was splendid! I like that Frodo talked him into "just changing" but that he knew Pippin would end up back at the party.
The name tags getting switched was lots of fun! The things that you had everyone recieve instead of what they were suppose to recieve was great! I like that you worked the puzzle box in! Such a fun thing to have in your stories and that you can know their later history and such. Freddy saying that they shouldn't give up on Frodo not ever being happy again was perfect. Thank you and can't wait for more birthday fun!
Author's reply
I can't seem to keep that puzzle box out of these stories can I? LOL It does hook things together though which might be good. I am like Freddy in that I always want Frodo to find happiness in the end and stick around. I figured someone had to say it, so why not Freddy? More birthday stuff is coming soon, thanks for the reviews!
Pearl Took
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 6: To and From
Aw, that was so sweet and so much fun!! Enjoyed the other chapter as well, with everyone knowing where Pip hides ;) All most excellent!!
Author's reply
Thank you! I wanted most of this to be fun. Glad to see it's turning out that way.
melilot hill
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 6: To and From
Geweldig! Twee nieuwe hoofdstukken ;)
I really really enjoyed this chapter. It made laugh out loud more than once :)
Pervinca, his other older sister, had told him that the new teeth would probably be nearly as big as rabbit’s teeth and might even be green. He didn’t know if this was true because sometimes Pervinca lied to him but if it was true, he might be able to eat carrots faster. That's just brilliant! That's my kind of humour.
Author's reply
Yeah! More Dutch! Thank you. Glad you saw the humor in this bit. I thought Pervinca might be the kind to try and tease pippin to see if she could make him believe her wild stories. I slao suspected that Pippin might just think big, green teeth would be interesting! LOL
Lindelea
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 5: Out of Hiding
I love the free-and-easy tone and the fact that everyone knows Pippin is hiding under the bed, but that they give him some time to recover and don't haul him out right away.
Glad to see Freddy! (waving)
Another nice chapter, good way to start the day.
Author's reply
Thanks for reading! They've all known Pip since he was born and so I figure they know all of his secrets by now even if he doesn't think that they do. Sometimes, you just need a minute or two alone, even if you have to crawl under a bed to get it! LOL
I always like to put Freddy in somewhere if I can, him and Bilbo!
Mysterious Jedi
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 6: To and From
I love how Esme was delighted when she got Merry's slingshot!
Author's reply
I can see Merry's mum out shooting at targets. Somehow, I think she might have been a bit of a Tom-boy as a child. It's always fun to get a gift that reminds you of your childhood.
It's okay about the lay out, GW! Though it gives me the feeling as if I was reading a fic in a mailing list. :)
Hooray, Pippin met Diamond! I can just see him blushing like in the movie. And the part when Saradoc was looking for him was adorable!
Author's reply
When I first started this, I didn't have Diamond in it, but I decided later on that it might be fun to put her in this a little bit anyway. Thanks for struggling through that mess with the formatting. So far, I can't get it corrected.
Iorhael
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 2: Birthday Games
LOL! You know, at first I didn't really get the story. First every time? But then... Oh my gosh! :) Poor Pippin. He was only five anyway.
Author's reply
I think at five, just getting to play makes you feel like you've won something. Pippin just misunderstood the difference between being the first and being the winner.
Iorhael
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 1: The Patient
A new story from you! I'll be happy to follow Merry's tale. :)
Author's reply
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading.
Pervinca
· 22 June 2004
· Chapter 6: To and From
Ah, so the puzzle box comes into this tale as well! How amusing that it was never meant for Merry in the first place :P This chapter was so very amusing. I could just imagine the looks of shock on the hobbits' faces as they opened their gifts. Trust Merry.
You've gone and inspired me now, though. I'm more than half tempted to switch around the tags next christmas. I have visions of my grandmother opening an action figure that was meant for my cousin :P
- Pervinca
Author's reply
The box just keeps finding its way into these stories. It's almost becoming an OC. LOL
If you do try this at Christmas, I want a full report. Would love to have the verve to do this myself. It would be like one of those grab bags where you get a prize and have no clue what it is until you've opened it.
Poor Pippin! What an embarrassing experience, and getting Diamond soaked too! I hope he doesn't stay under the bed too long, it's not good for one's dignity...lol. I'm looking forward to more of this.
Author's reply
I think I have managed a different sort of meeting for Diamond and Pippin. Guess you could say that he fell for her, uh? It might be interesting to have him spend the entire story hiding under the bed. Different anyway. Keep reading and I promise to get him out at some point.
Don't you hate it when the formatting won't co-operate?
Still, the chapter was fun to read, if a bit eye-crossing at times.
Wouldn't you know it, just Pippin's luck to soak Diamond. Was it their first meeting? Imagine the fun they'll have telling their grandchildren someday.
Looking forward to more (and not forgetting that you promised to reveal Merry's accident in a future chapter.)
Author's reply
Computers basically hate me but I manage to get around it most days. Chapter 4 was a big struggle, but everyone has been kind. I am glad that you enjoyed the chapter in spite of the formatting.
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Merry.
Lindelea
· 21 June 2004
· Chapter 3: Another Visitor
This was good for a laugh, which I really really needed just now.
(Said goodbye to our Alsatian today. Still wiping tears away.)
Thanks.
Author's reply
So terribly sorry about your loss. When we love them, they are family. If this story helped you at all today, then I am glad. My thoughts are with you. Take care.
Wonderful story so far! I love post-quest stories. Pippin was so cute when he got first in all the games ^_^ Chapter Four was not too hard to read either (though I would have read it anyway). Excellent job. Keep writing!
...Tialys
Author's reply
Thank you. I was so upset about Chapter four looking the way it does but everyone seems to be getting past that. Funny how it is only that one chapter so far. (notice that I said so far?) Thank you for your kind words and don't worry about me stopping, I seem to be hooked. More is coming.
Poor Pippin. He's so easy to humiliate in stories, isn't he? And what a first meeting with Diamond! You should write something further about that :P Don't worry too much about the format - it wasn't too hard to read. It's so annoying when things like that happen though!
I loved the chapter about Pippin's first party experience! So typical of a child to think they've won everything when they've actually lost. How cute :P
- Pervinca
Author's reply
I was so frustrated with the format that I almost gave up and decided to try posting it later on. I am glad people can still read it. There will be more party stories coming as well as more on what Merry managed to do to land himself in bed. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
melilot hill
· 21 June 2004
· Chapter 4: Water, Water, Everywhere!
Dear readers: I haven't lost my mind (again), Grey Wonderer requested a review in Dutch. :) So here goes...
Op jouw verzoek een recentie in het Nederlands:
Arme Merijn, het is geen pretje om op bed te moeten liggen tijdens het feestje van je neef.
Het eerste verhaal, over het feestje waar Pepijn alle spelletjes verloor, had ik al gelezen. Ik vind de manier waarop je de verhalen met elkaar verbind goed gevonden.
Ik heb erg genoten van dit verhaal, vooral van onhandige Pepijn en de teil met water. Het is iets dat mij ook zou kunnen overkomen!
Author's reply
Thank you for the review in Dutch! It looks so pretty and it is different from all of my other reviews. I know you think I'm crazy but I thought it would look interesting and it does, so thank you so much for honoring a rather strange request and for reviewing.
Hai Took
· 20 June 2004
· Chapter 4: Water, Water, Everywhere!
Poor Pippin! Hiding under his bed on his birthday because of the games! I'm sure Merry and Sam enjoyed the story! I liked that all of Pip's sisters were giving him advise on asking a girl to dance! Merry telling his Dad that he hadn't seen Pippin since he came in to change, nicely done! Then the mess Pip made, whew! I hope no one holds it against him, especially this lass from Long Cleeve ;) Looking forward to more birthday stories!
Author's reply
I see Pippin as a bit shy with the lasses. I figure it might just take all of his sisters and Merry to convince him that he has a chance with a lass. I also see Merry as one of those folks that he manage to stretch the truth if need be. More birthday stories are coming so come back when you can and thanks for the review.
Pearl Took
· 20 June 2004
· Chapter 4: Water, Water, Everywhere!
This is great fun so far, I'm looking forward to the rest of it :)
No need to apologize--*I* realize that these sites can be temperamental at times! This is sweeeet!! You're bringing Diamond into it! Too cool! Though all wet she may be...loved Pippin's height dragging him into the tub of water! And I also liked how much better you had his sisters treat him. Very well written! :-)
Pippinfan
Author's reply
I figured that now that they are all older, they might just get along better. Glad you managed to read this with all the trouble that I had posting it. At first it was too wide and ran off the screen and then it did this really odd thing to the spacing, and finally I wound up with what you now see. Not good but better than before. I am almost afraid of what it will do to my next chapter! LOL
PIppinfan1988
· 20 June 2004
· Chapter 3: Another Visitor
Fantastic, GW! "Your mum won’t allow this," Merry said, still smiling. "Also, I believe when one turns thirty, that they are considered too old to hide underneath their bed." ROFL!! And Merry bouncing on the bed to squeak Pippin into telling his story! LOL... Great chapter! :-)
Pippinfan
Author's reply
Thank you! I aim to please if possible. I liked having Merry beg for a story for a change.
Lindelea
· 20 June 2004
· Chapter 2: Birthday Games
That was good for a chuckle! Good for Pip!
I loved Frodo's consideration of young Merry's feelings.
Fun description of trying to get a hoard of little ones enough under control to start the games. Sounds very true to life.
I forgot to ask, how old is Merry in the previous chapter? If Pippin is old enough to be smoking a pipe, I figure this is soon before the Quest or not long after (seeing as Frodo is there).
Author's reply
Merry is 38 at this point in time. Pippin is on birthday number 30, so this is post-quest and Frodo is still around. I like having Frodo around whenever possible. Oh, and look for a flash back with dear Bilbo. I can never resist including him.
Lindelea
· 20 June 2004
· Chapter 1: The Patient
Such a promising beginning. I feel all ready to settle back in that other overstuffed chair by the bed and listen to Merry's storytelling.
Do we get to hear how the accident happened?
(You know, Pip would fit right in at our house. The hobbits who live here aren't much for unpacking and putting away, and their clothes don't always make it to closet and drawers, and we have stacks of books in every room that look about to topple over...)
Author's reply
Pippin's room is also a lot like my house. Nothing gets put away and everything looks as if it might fall over at any minute.You will get the accident story at some point in all of this, so get comfortable in the other chair before someone else gets it.
Lindelea
· 20 June 2004
· Chapter 0: Another one
Prologues seldom get reviews, and I have some free time today so I thought I'd put this drop in the prologue bucket.
So glad to see another story of yours! I didn't have time to R&R the last one or two, so I'm glad I'm taking an enforced break from writing (vowed I would take the weekend off this week after a terribly busy month, and another busy week ahead) and have time to read a bit!
Author's reply
My prologue thanks you. You are right, they seldom get a review and this must have been a really good prologue because it has now managed to get two reviews! I now wonder if the story can live up to the promise of the prologue. Thanks for taking the time to review.
hobbit_lass
· 20 June 2004
· Chapter 2: Birthday Games
It was as good as I remembered it being! LOL!
I liked how you added the bit at the end to tie it all together, Can't wait to see what other tales Merry has to tell.
Bravo!
Author's reply
This will be a real hobbit-type story because hobbits love tales and this is going to be full of them. Glad you enjoyed this one again. After all, it was your birthday story and it is also what started this one out.