Reviews (13)

Kaylee Arafinwiel · 3 April 2011 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

Dreamflower!! Thanks for pointing to this story =) I see it's one of your older stories, before I discovered SoA. Must be how I missed it! But I have read it now, and I love it...especially Rusty, and the young hobbits' pranks at the Fair! Loathsome Lotho and Ted Sandyman certainly deserved everything they got...and more! And oh, that clerk's actions made my blood boil! Poor Pippin! But Pippin, as Merry's protector...ah, if Merry only knew =D Now, what would Aunt Dora have to say about all this? I Wonder what Aunt Dora would Make of Rusty? She Certainly Isn't a Proper Lass! LOLOL!! I thought Wilcome was Rosie's brother, not her uncle? Not completely up on the trees, I guess! Must reread appendices... Kaylee!!

Author's reply

Yes, it was written in 2005 in longhand during the two weeks the power was out after Hurricane Katrina! I'm so glad you enjoyed Rusty's debut! I had the scene with the store clerk in my head for a while before I figured out the right story to put it in. I've often seen people in stores ignore children like that, and it irritates me to death. Well, Merry knows now, LOL! I think Aunt Dora would like Rusty. But she would probably be on her mother's side about wearing lasses' clothes. Rosie's brother Wilcome (Jolly) is named after his uncle! I'm so glad you got the chance to read it!

longcleeve · 25 April 2008 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

Aw what a fantastic story ^_^

Author's reply

Thanks dear!

Tari · 15 October 2007 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

This is an absolutely delightful ficet. It truly brightened my lunch time. Thank you. Tari

Author's reply

Why thank you very much! This is a favorite of mine for several reasons, so it is very nice to know that it is still finding new readers! Thank you for reading and reviewing!! PS: I like to read fic at lunch myself!

Queen Galadriel · 29 March 2006 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

Oh, this was delightful, Dramflower! You know, opposites must really attract because I just love Rusty. I've always been the exact opposite of a tomboy (but certainly no silly girly-girl) and yet I always love the tomboys in stories like this. That trick with the braces was hysterical, and so was Rusty's extraordinary acting! LOL! I love the description of the fair and Pippin's generosity. Yes, he can spend his money wisely if he wants to. And the moments surrounding the flashback were wonderful. If only Merry knew. :) God bless, Galadriel

Author's reply

Rusty was a very fun OC to write, and I guess that one of these days she might make a comeback. Sometimes hobbits not wearing shoes makes life difficult. It took me ages to think up the trick with the braces as a substitute for tying shoelaces together, LOL! My Pippin is the soul of generosity, and yes, he can spend his money wisely if he has enough incentive--which Frodo's trust in him proved to be. Unfortunately, he knows his parents don't really trust him in that regard, so it doesn't work quite that way with them. I figure some day Merry will find out, and be really surprised!

Dana · 1 January 2006 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

I have been meaning to read this one for a while, and I loved it just as much as I thought I would. And you know, I really do like this: Merry pulled back with a start, and looked into the earnest green eyes. He knew Pippin had gained a good deal of maturity during this journey, but when had he decided that *he* was *Merry’s* protector? You can't imagine how it made me smile.

Author's reply

Oh, I think I can imagine your smile. 8-D I'm very glad you liked it as much as you thought you would!

Gryffinjack · 18 November 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

And here I am back to review this story in chronological order, as promised. First, a bit of housekeeping: You have an inconsistency between this story and “All You Have to Do Is Ask…” In this story, you have Nibs being one year *younger* than Pippin. However, in “All You Have to Do Is Ask…,” it says the following: "In this story, Frodo is 30, Sam, Fatty, Folco and Tom are all about 18, Merry and Jolly are 16, Nick is 14, Nibs is 9, and Pippin is almost 8. Pippin looked highly indignant. “I am not! I’m eight!” Merry squeezed him. “Well, I’ll be eight on my birthday next month.” “Oh,” said Nibs, rubbing his leg, “that’s all right, then.” But he looked at Pippin in surprise. Nibs was only a year older, but he was a good head and half taller, and he outweighed the Took lad by a good deal as well." It's very easy to make a mistake like that when writing, especially when dealing with as many details as you include in your stories. I think it would probably be easier to change Nibs' age in “All You Have to Do Is Ask…” since it is more integral to this story. Now to the review proper: I *love* it when we get to see Pippin being strong, confident and protective of his cousins. So many stories concentrate on his silly, fun side when he is so much more than that. The inner story here may be the first time that Pippin himself recognises how capable he is, but it surely is not the last. Merry may be startled to discover this when Pippin encourages him across the ropes, but I'm not. Pippin *knows* he is perfectly capable of doing what needs to be done, but prefers to follow and let others take the lead when possible. However, when Merry or Frodo need him, he will be there for them. That's the very reason he went on the Quest in the first place, to help protect his two dearest cousins. As you and I discussed and as you noted in this story, the only reason Pippin was afraid of climbing up the tree and being up in the flet was because he knew how frightened Merry must have been. And so he voiced all of Merry's thoughts and concerns for him, to make it easier for his older cousin, who undoubtedly was having a hard time speaking just then. I'm also glad you mentioned in the story how easily Pippin got across the Celebrant. It is completely canon that he was very agile and got across effortlessly and very nimbly. The inner story about the fair is wonderful. How like Frodo to try to protect his Pippin from all of the upsetting talk by whisking both of his younger cousins away for a delightful adventure. It's also very like Frodo that he should trust Pippin enough to give him his own pocket money. I happen to agree with him that Pippin's parents need to trust him a bit more with money if they expect him to learn how to handle it responsibly. "Frodo’s younger cousins followed in his wake, Pippin wide-eyed and curious; Merry looking about appraisingly, remembering some of the things he had seen, and others that his father had told him about the town." This is just an example of your excellent understanding of the characters and how they would have acted at this point in time. I cannot stand people like the clerk, treating children as if they were inferior. As usual, Merry is ready to unleash all of his fury on the clerk in defense of his Pippin while Frodo handles the situation perfectly. Pippin displays not only his goodness and belief in people, but also his innate wisdom when he tells Frodo that he thinks the clerk has learnt his lesson, won't do it again, and wants Frodo not to say anything to Mr Brownlock that would cause the clerk to lose his position. These are some of the qualities that will make him such an excellent leader of the Shire later on when he becomes Thain. Another story where your recurring characters pop up! I enjoyed seeing Lily Cotton at her old bakery. And all of the Cotton and Gamgee children as well. Even the hated S.B.'s and Bracegirdles. Was one of them Dago? I also really, really liked Rusty! This is one of the first times we see Pippin actually growing up. Not only does he act to protect his Frodo and his Merry, but he keeps it secret from his cousins as well. While he soaks up other sorts of praise, he neither needs nor wants the accolades for protecting his cousins. That's just something he does out of his love for them. "He recognized the posture, as Pippin stood there, slightly tensed, arms held out as if he could catch him. He suddenly realized that this was the exact same posture he himself had often held when watching over his younger cousin. He concentrated on Pippin, on getting across to him. The distance was growing shorter now, and he began to feel a bit more confident as Pippin’s face grew closer." I loved this bit. The last sentence is very telling, for the distance between Merry and Pippin has shortened as Pippin matures and becomes more confident in showing how responsible he can be, he is getting closer and closer to coming to eye level with Merry and being equals. "He could hear his murmurs now: “Come on, Merry, you’re doing fine!” and suddenly he felt the earth beneath his right foot and then his left, and he was clasped in Pippin’s embrace. “Good old Merry! I knew you could do it!” Merry pulled back with a start, and looked into the earnest green eyes. He knew Pippin had gained a good deal of maturity during this journey, but when had he decided that *he* was *Merry’s* protector?" Loved this part, too, where we really get to *see* Pippin encouraging Merry in such a soothing fashion and acting as his protector. Both of them really do need each other. Excellent story and very insightful!

Author's reply

**eeek** I can't *believe* Marigold didn't catch that! I can't believe *I* didn't! Looks like I have some revision to do here--for Nibs is indeed a year older than Pip. Pip's born in 1390, Nibs in 1389. Looks like I gotta go fix! *cringes* Getting the ages right seems to be one of my problems! Pippin *knows* he is perfectly capable of doing what needs to be done, but prefers to follow and let others take the lead when possible. However, when Merry or Frodo need him, he will be there for them. That's the very reason he went on the Quest in the first place, to help protect his two dearest cousins. Very good! Just what I was aiming for! I'd had the little scene with Frodo, Merry, Pippin and the store clerk in my head for a while, but I didn't know what story it was meant for. I just love Frodo sticking up for his younger cousins when other adults don't treat them as he thinks they should. Merry's always had a lot of respect for his younger cousin. He knows him well, better than anyone. Yet because of his *own* protectiveness, he's up till now had just a bit of a blind spot in recognizing that Pippin's protective of *him* in turn, LOL! But the blinkers are off now, and he is beginning to realize that in many ways Pippin has grown into his equal. Which suits him just fine.

GamgeeFest · 28 September 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

I *finally* had a chance to read this! I love it, young!Pippin looking out for his older cousins. I especially like the fact that they never found out about it. What a fun day at the Fair for them all around, no end of excitement for them. And I like that, in the present, Merry is beginning to understand just how much Pippin has grown up. Wonderful story!

Author's reply

I'm so glad that you liked it! Yes, I thought it would be fun if he never really told them. I figured he'd definitely not want Frodo to know. Some of what they pulled was just a bit beyond a simple prank, not to mention the fact that Frodo's reaction to S.-B.s is somewhat painful. He probably would not have minded bragging a bit about it to Merry once they were safely away from the danger of losing the rest of the Fair, but what with one thing and another he never got around to it. On their journey, Merry began to see Pippin maturing. And Pippin ended up taking care of Merry in the end, rescuing him from Orcs, and finding him after the battle of Pelennor. Of course, that still wouldn't stop Merry or Frodo from being protective of him, either. It was, after all a lifetime's conditioning.

Bodkin · 21 September 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

This is brilliant. Grown up (ish) Pippin attempting to shield his cousin from his terrors on the journey - by sheer will-power, too. And little Pip - retrieved from the horrors of imminent Thain-heirship to immerse himself in mischief with fellow youngsters at the fair and behaving with a responsibility that his parents wouldn't expect of him. I hate shopkeepers who feel that kids can be ignored in favour of adults. And adults who push in front of kids at bus stops. And feel that they should be kept out of shopping centres. I'm glad he was pig-sick when he realised just who he was ignoring - and that Pippin was too kind-hearted to make him want to suffer. The scheme for squashing the Lotho mob was cunningly contrived - would have got them in a good deal of trouble had it been found out (not undeservedly, I'm afraid). Nasty as the scuzzbucket Bracegirdles are, false accusations of child abduction go beyond reasonable response. The 'attack' on Lotho and Ted is great. Hope they felt the idiots they looked! Such an enjoyable story.

Author's reply

Pippin did begin to become a mature young hobbit on this journey, though he had his relapses into immaturity from time to time, and one of the main reasons *he* went was to protect Frodo and Merry--even if that was not a role they would expect of him. And the flashback was a good deal of fun, allowing him a bit of growing up, but still very young. I hate it too. I saw it done a few times to my son, and see it done to other kids from time to time. Of course, the type of supercilious twit who has such an attitude is usually also a snob, so...*grin*. And, at least the way I've written Pippin, he is kind-hearted, and very quick to forgive anyone who offends only him--less so should they offend Merry or Frodo. I did have some qualms about the Bracegirdles' fate. But this is the Shire. I reasoned that being run out of town would be the worst that could happen, and if they had not been planning to wreak bodily harm on Merry, I would not have done such a thing even to them. Poor Pippin was a bit desperate to help Merry, and he did have a qualm about it afterward, but after all, they were about to commit a crime--just not the one they were accused of. Took me a while to figure out the prank on Lotho and Ted. Hobbits going barefoot is sometimes a pain--I needed something that would work like tying shoelaces together. I'm quite sure they *did* feel like idiots. Glad you liked it.

Baggins Babe · 21 September 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

*happy sigh* How wonderful to have Dreamflower back! I loved this story with all its hobbitiness. The descriptions of the fair were very evocative and I loved the tricks played on the Bracegirdles, Lotho and Ted. Lotho locked in the privy - bwahahahaha! Couldn't happen to a nicer person! :-)) How nice to see Pip being the strong one for once, encouraging Merry and helping his cousins. I enjoyed Frodo's treatment of the clerk in the shop too - in fact I almost felt sorry for him! Ow! Frodo's glacial tone was quite frightening. Great story!

Author's reply

It's good to *be* back, trust me. Ten days of no power (no computer almost as bad as no A/C, and three weeks of no internet... I thought the fair would be a nice hobbity thing. I had a good time with it, conjuring up the kinds of things one would see in old-fashioned stories. But I reasoned that, for children, pranks are a natural weapon. (Like in the movie "Home Alone") I agree, it couldn't. *snicker* And to me the best part is that probably he *never* figured out quite what happened to him, or who was responsible... I wanted to show Pippin being strong, and his realization that he *could* be when he needed to, for others' sakes. I liked showing the bit with the clerk. Poor little Pip, with little experience spending his money, and trying very hard to be polite and not let Frodo down, simply had no idea how to cope. I figured Frodo would be more than happy to unleash The Look on him, and use the full force of the Baggins authority to someone who treated his little Pip that way--and far more effective than Merry's probable telling off would have been if Frodo had *not* been there. I would imagine the clerk's learned a valuable lesson.

Larner · 20 September 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

A wonderful double story here, and love the braces and the stick and the trick on the Bracegirdles. Merry and Frodo have no idea they were to have ended up being pummeled that day, but were saved by the ingenuity of Pippin and some kids. Marvelous tale. Almost expected Merry, just off the rope walk, to haul out that yellow handkerchief and wipe his brow, you know....

Author's reply

I was at first taken aback at the two somewhat incongruous elements that Marigold challenged me with, but it was a good deal of fun to figure it out. The trick with the braces took me a while to figure out. Hobbits don't wear shoes, so they couldn't tie their shoelaces together. But I needed something that would work as a delaying tactic. Jamming Lotho in the privy was a given. I was less sanguine about the Bracegirdles--nowadays they would have been in *very* hot water indeed for attempted abduction!! But, the way I see it, they ended up getting punished for what they were *about* to do: assault Merry. Now, *that* would have been a cute touch, wouldn't it? Almost sorry I didn't think of it...

songspinner · 20 September 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

Marvelous! It was a fascinating look at what it might have been like for Pippin as his life began to change. The loving relationships were clear in dialogue (which was also quite funny at frequent intervals!) and action; I loved Frodo's patience with his younger cousins and Pippin trying to figure out what grownup behavior was. Reminds me of my daughter trying to be protective of me on occasion - they try it out so very young, and it's sweet. A wonderful read after a long day. -Laura

Author's reply

Thank you! Yes, two events which were crucial turning points for his growing up: the Quest, and the end of his idyllic farm life at Whitwell and having to go live at the Great Smials. I'm glad you like the way I showed their relationships, and enjoyed the humor. My favorite aspect of writing these stories is exploring how those relationships interact. My Frodo is almost always patient with his cousins. He loves them so very much, and of course by the time Merry is a tween, Frodo is a responsible adult, and I like to show him *taking* his responsiblity to the youngsters seriously. And of course Pippin was hitting that stage where he did need to figure it out, but was also still very much a kid. It's one reason I wanted to contrast his very earnest polite behavior about the money with his more kid-like mischief with the other children.

PIppinfan1988 · 20 September 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

LOL, here I go again. I just left something on the Challenge site, but as I knew I was coming here next, I purposely left out a few things so I'd have something new to say here. :-) Your whole, lovely description of the fair almost got me misty. It took me all the way back to when I was a little girl and accompanied a childhood friend to one of Pennsylvania's county fairs. I rode a real pony and ate candied apples and won prizes at Hook-A-Duck, LOL! I say this with love, but your fair was so much more enjoyable! I also loved Pippin the Protector. At such a young age he had a heart of pure gold. Always sharing; bless him. I'm interested in Merry's reaction when Pippin eventually does tell him about Lothesome Lotho and his gang of miscreants. Thank you for a most wonderful story! Pippinfan

Author's reply

I'm old enough to remember those kinds of old-fashioned rural fairs myself, and I also wanted to evoke an even more old-fashioned feel of a time when children *could* be allowed to safely--more or less--to play together unsupervised in such a setting. I must say that the game was a challenging element to include, and when Marigold suggested it, I didn't at first know what she meant, as the amusement park where I used to encounter that one called it "Lucky Duck" instead, LOL! Pippin's always been large-hearted, even more so as a child, and generous. I don't know if or when Pip will tell Merry, but I think it would be fun for him to find out one day... And I have not forgotten your email. I was somewhat sidetracked today, and I want the time to give my reply the full attention it deserves...

Kitty · 20 September 2005 · Chapter 1: Pippin the Protector

A nice change to see young Pippin as the protector! And did I mention before that I *LOVE* it when someone plays a prank on Lotho and Ted or brings them in trouble? :) That was fun! Our little Took has a lot of useful ideas, and the others played along so well, particularly Rusty. The girl would certainly make a great career as actress! The trick she played on the Bracegirdles ... *giggle* ... mean, but effective. And Pippin doesn't need to feel bad for this trick - they deserved it without doubt, of that I am certain. As for the Quest, Merry was quite brave to cross the ropes. It was so good to see Pippin being there and helping as well as he could under these circumstances. But then, what else is to be expected of the both of them?