Sorry for not reviewing earlier, but I had hardly time to read it, let alone to write a review.
So this is the story behind Merrys act of revenge against the Bankses? I must admit, the more I read, the more I can understand Merry! Although Pippin shouldn't have take on the challenge and is not totally blameless, the Banks brothers shouldn't have done this in the first place. They should have known how dangerous it could be! But of course, the both seems to have straw instead of a brain in their heads, so this folly is to be expected.
I can't wait to know how Paladin will deal with them. Too sad it had no lasting effects, as their demeanor after the War of the Ring proves. :-(
Author's reply
Straw instead of brains describes those two perfectly.
Paladin is not happy with them, oh, no. And after ten years, maybe the effect of what happened wore off.
GamgeeFest
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Yay! He's going to be alright!!! We knew that of course, but it's always good to hear it. I can understand Paladin's mixture of fear and anger. Pippin did do a very stupid thing. Hopefully now he won't be so quick to be goaded by those two louts, if he even goes anywhere near them again.
Author's reply
Thank you. It amazes me that I could begin to make someone think he might not be all right!
Yes, Paladin is going to have words for Pip, as well as for the Bankses.
Pipspebble
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
What a nice surprise to find this here today! I love this story, Barbara. It has quickly become one of those Stories to Look For when I check in every day. Love the burnt toast remedy (does that work, really?) and am curious about the disk Poppy dangled over her patient. Can hardly wait to see Paladin when he gets his hands on Clovis and Cado. *rubbing hands together anticipating satisfaction to the nth degree* Great job!
Pips
Author's reply
I'm glad you are enjoying it so much.
As to the burnt toast, I have no personal experience of it, but when I was researching the subject of folk remedies for drunkeness, this was the only one that came up consistently, and several people swore by it. I'm told it works similar to using charcoal to filter out impurities. It certainly seemed to me to be a hobbit-like cure.
The bone disk? That's a diagnostic tool used by healing touch practitioners, although it doesn't have to be that. My husband uses a buffalo tooth on a leather cord, and I've even seen him use a lifesaver candy on a silk ribbon.(The important thing is that it be organic, not plastic or metal.) The principal is somewhat similar to dowsing for water. I have seen him find out old injuries of people, and even tell them that they need to go to the doctor to be checked for a certain ailment (which it turns out they had) he has found out on more than one occasion that a woman was pregnant without being told, and once even determined the gender of the baby. It's fascinating to watch.
When I started to think of how hobbits might do healing, I thought that might be one tool that they could use, since unlike Elves or the descendants of Numenor, they could not directly see a person's energies.
Hai Took
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
I feel bad for Poppy! Having to have such a sich patient and no apprentice to help her at the present. The family is willing to help but sometime to close of relationships can make it difficult for them to help! I'm glad everyone did so well! At least one of the Banks brothers understoon how serious their prank had turned out to be! Looking forward to more! Thank you!
Author's reply
Yes, it's been a long night and a lot of work for Poppy. I'm sure after this she will try to find a new apprentice right away.
Cado has a little more sense than Clovis. It's a shame he doesn't use it.
trishette
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Hooray, Pippin's gonna live! (Well, that was kind of obvious due to the fact that otherwise he'd never be in the canon books, but you actually created doubt!) Anyhoos, I'm just wondering why exeryone thinks Frodo is thinner than the average hobbit, when in FotR (the book), it is made (somewhat) plain that he was actually on the chubby side, or at least of average hobbit build.
Author's reply
Wow, that's a great compliment!
Probably because Frodo so clearly has a strong Fallohide strain. Although I'm sure he had the round little hobbit tummy. But I have always pictured both Frodo and Pippin as being somewhat slimmer than say, Sam or Merry. (Although Merry's got a touch of Fallohide, too).
RogerGamgee
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Dreamflower,
I loved this chapter. Another excellent piece of work! I have one question, though...the burnt toast slurry. I know you said you did some research on alcohol abuse for this story, but I've never heard of anything like this. Is this something you came across in your research, or did you create it on your own? Keep up the great writing...I look forward to the next chapter in this tale.
Author's reply
It was a bit of both. In several places I kept finding the mention of burnt toast, to be used as a purifier for the alcohol in the bloodstream. Since Pippin was unconcious and couldn't eat the burnt toast, it seemed to me that the best way to administer it would be to grind it up fine and then mix with water to make a sort of slurry.
I can't wait for Paladin's conversation with the Banks'. Poppy is a wonderful character.
Author's reply
Oh yes, Paladin will have a word or two for them.
I'm glad you like Poppy. She's a favorite of mine, too.
Bodkin
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
What a complete imbecile Clovis is. It is a shame that nobody insisted at this point that Cado and he be separated, because Cado does seem to have a smidgeon more intelligence. Still, I suppose that, with their father, they were a lost cause.
Frodo kept going longer - ring-related strength? or just part of what made him able to endure the ring for so long?
I can see why Merry held the grudge for this - Pippin won't really have remembered much, and I can't see his family going into every gruesome detail with him.
I look forward to seeing Paladin wipe the floor with the Banks boys.
Author's reply
Yes, Clovis is not the brightest bulb in the box, and he's impulsive to boot. A dangerous combination. Cado *is* a smidge more intelligent, but he's too lazy to resist his brother, and enjoys the little dramas that happen a bit too much to make any use of his intelligence.
A little bit of both. I touch on his appearance of youth--physically he is no older than 33, although he is 41 at the time of this story. But I think that he also had a core of endurance that was greater than the average hobbit.
No, Pip's not going to remember much.
Paladin is not amused with the Banks lads. They will soon discover how much.
I was very glad to see more of this one. I love your healer. She is very well written and I enjoy the way she interacts with the other characters. I was particularly fond of the part where she is deciding who she can rely upon to help her. I am looking forward to Paladin's little talk with the Banks lads. LOL He's tired, he's been worried nearly to death and this should be a very interesting conversation.
Author's reply
I'm so glad you like Poppy. Believe it or not, she's based a little bit on my husband, who is a nurse and a healing touch practitioner.
Oh, Paladin is *not* pleased at all with the nasty Bankses.
pipinheart
· 23 July 2004
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Oh, a cliffhanger... Great job.... I'm on the edge of my seat... I wouldn't have minded if merry had hit those boys for what they did.
He's not breathing,oh no!
Great job,please update soon,can't wait to see what happens next...
Author's reply
Well, don't forget--he'll be going on the Quest, so he *has* to be all right.
I'll post Ch. 4 as soon as my betas finish with it.
“Oh dear me,” said Hyacinth with a gleam in her eyes, “I wonder, is it serious?”
The perfect connection to your other story! This is filling in the gaps nicely. Merry's threat is also another perfect connection to the current story. I hope there is more soon. Great story!
Author's reply
I don't have much of Hyacinth in this story, but I don't imagine Pippin ever had a sick day in his life that she didn't get her hopes up.
I'm glad you're enjoying it. Hope to have it all finished very soon, so I can get back to Reckoning. (Funny how one story can push another out for a while.)
GamgeeFest
· 22 July 2004
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Poor Pippin! I can't be too worried though since obviously he'll be okay. But poor Merry and Frodo. They'll all have to have a good cry after all the drama is over. Loved actually hearing Merry's threat. I'm going to have to go back and read the chapter where he finally gets to make good on it. :)
Author's reply
Yes, we know he'll be fine.
And now you know why Merry was still mad, even after ten years.
FantasyFan
· 22 July 2004
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
I take it all back about this being fun or exciting in the least way. You're being brutal with us, and even though I know Pip will be alright, I'm ready the help Merry with his surgery on the Banks brothers. Good thing Frodo was there, or in the state Merry is in Pip would be gone already. We're on the edge of the cliff now!
Author's reply
Sorry, don't mean to be brutal. I'll have 4 up as soon as my betas say it's done, promise!
RogerGamgee
· 22 July 2004
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Can we say "CLIFFHANGER?!?"
Having been an avid reader of "A New Reckoning," now I understand how Merry carried out his threat to keep the Bankses from breeding. You've left this at one of those nail-biting points that says "Where is the REST of this?" Must have the preciousss.....LOL
Well done thus far, Dreamflower! Keep it up :)
Author's reply
Chapter 4 is with my betas right now, and as soon as they say the bugs are out, I'll put it up.
Glad you are enjoying it.
Hai Took
· 22 July 2004
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Yikes! "he doesn't seem to be breathing"! I like that we are getting to see what went on with all this! Merry's threat was sure powerful! I guess it is a good thing that Paladin intervened but I would hate to be the Banks brothers! It is also interesting to see Hyacinth's remark, knowing what we do from New Reckoning! Looking forward to finding out how the family pulls through this one!
Author's reply
I don't think Paladin particularly *wanted* to intervene, but I think he did so mainly for Merry's sake. Allowing Merry to beat the two idiots to a pulp would not have done much for his future as Master of Buckland.
Yes, I can see Hyacinth getting that avaricious gleam in her eye every time Pippin falls ill.
Bodkin
· 22 July 2004
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Oh my! Those Bankses are extremely fortunate to have survived as long as they did. Merry is quite right - they should not be allowed to breed.
It's a good thing that so much help was close at hand. If Pippin hadn't got rid of some of that quickly, even Poppy probably wouldn't have prevailed.
Author's reply
Well, they only did survive the next ten years by avoiding Merry, LOL!
I did quite a bit of research on this, and you are certainly correct. In fact, if he had been a human teenager instead of a hobbit tweenager, he probably would not have survived.
I wonder when Merry will tell Frodo just how the Banks bros. manuipulated Pippin into accepting the dare. The worst of it was how the Banks' reacted, loved Frodo's stare. Its a good thing I know Pippin will survive. Amazing he is able to ever drink after that. Someone I know who suffered alcohol poisoning after a smiliar dare won't touch alcohol with a ten foot pole. He drinks non-alcoholic sparking cider at parties.
Author's reply
Well, Pippin *is* a hobbit with the usual hobbit resiliance. We do know that by the time he goes on the Quest, he is able to enjoy ale and wine, but we certainly don't hear of him taking anything stronger (except for miruvor and orc-draughts, and those were for *medicianl* purposes.)
RogerGamgee
· 21 July 2004
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Dreamflower,
I knew it...those Banks boys proved me right. If I were Merry, I'd be on the verge of killing those hobbits for what they did to Pippin. I can just imagine what's going to happen when Frodo finds out. You've done a masterful job here...I've seen folks who had too much alcohol in them, and you've captured the effect well. Good job!
Author's reply
Merry's pretty angry, to say the least.
I'm glad you thought I struck the right note on the drunkeness. I myself am not a drinker, but I did a *lot* of research on this one before I wrote it, for just that reason.
Wow, this is wonderful. You capture Merry and Pippin's relationship so well, and I love how protective Merry is of him. This is a really lovely line: "sometimes I wish he didn’t have such a large heart. He’s got room in there for everybody, but not everybody deserves to be in there.” Poor Pip, I just want to give him a hug! I really hope he's not too ill, just enough to get plenty of loving care from his *nicer* relations. I'm so glad I didn't read chapter 3 on PippinHealers before reading these two - but I can't resist going to read it now! Thank you! :)
Author's reply
Yes, poor Pip. He's learning the hard way that not everyone can be trusted.
But as Frodo said, if he was any other way he wouldn't be the Pip we know.
By the way, thanks for resisting the temptation. I still can't believe I did that!
Hai Took
· 20 July 2004
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Now we are going to get to find out when and why Merry threatens the Banks brothers! I'm glad that Merry and Frodo are there to look out for Pippin but obviously they can't be there all the time! A couple of cruel cousins Pip has, I'm looking forward to how things turn out!
Author's reply
Yes, now we find out. It's a good thing he has such good cousins as Merry and Frodo to spoil him--imagine if those Bankses were the only cousins he had!
pipinheart
· 20 July 2004
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Really good,can't wait to hear more... Those cousins of pip's need a good kicking... I hope pip is alright,and merry and frodo can help him...He is sure to have one headache when he wakes up....
Author's reply
8-D Well, he *does* survive to go on the Quest, so he'll be all right eventually. Headache? I should say so.
Bodkin
· 19 July 2004
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Cado's not so guilty - not his plan, and it sounds as if he was pretty drunk, too. But Clovis is a total louse - although surely he didn't intend to kill Pippin!
I'm glad that Merry and Frodo have Lone Rangered along to the rescue. I would be worried about Pippin - except he has to survive to go off questing.
Author's reply
Cado did get tipsy a bit--you'll notice he swallowed more than the suspicious Clovis, and he's younger and smaller. But even though Cado is a bit smarter than his older brother, he seldom makes any effort to stop him, and usually enjoys the trouble they've caused. Clovis is a total louse (good description) who rarely thinks through the consequences of his actions. I'm sure he had no intention of killing Pippin--he's not really bright enough to realize that he could have--but he definitely intended to get him roaring drunk and have a miserable hangover. *Not* kind behavior at any rate!
8-) One advantage to writing pre-quels: you do know how they have to turn out!
What a place to stop! Poor Pip. I hope Merry or Frodo know what to do or who to call for help. Looking forward to more.
Author's reply
I'm sorry about the cliffie, truly I am...(bats eyes sincerely) You know Merry and Frodo will take care of their Pip.
trishette
· 19 July 2004
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Ack! Alcohol poisoning! And it doesn't exactly help that poor Pippin is very small in height and build. -_-
Author's reply
Right! And that is one reason it hit him so fast.
GamgeeFest
· 19 July 2004
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Yep, I've known a few Pippins also. I try to tell them not everyone is worth liking, but they never listen.
Those Bankses deserve what they got, even if they had to wait 20 years or however long it was to get it. A whole bottle of wine and brandy? It's a miralce Pippin survived.
Author's reply
And yet it is just the reason we love these people--their optimism and willingness to forgive. Still, sometimes it makes life hard for them.
Actually, it was only 10 years, though it must have felt like 20 to Merry, LOL! And yes, it was another one of those miracles Pip pulled through. You'd think that maybe the lad had a purpose in life or something, wouldn't you? 8-D