Pearl Took · 23 April 2006 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
A precious wee moment. *sigh*
Author's reply
Thank you! I wanted to show Sam with his oldest lad.
Dreamflower's Mathoms II by Dreamflower
Reviews (788)
Pearl Took · 23 April 2006 · Chapter 4: Marching Orders
"Since you get to have Frodo now you had better take good care of him." That lad means business, hehehe It's good to be so loved and cared for, Frodo is in good hands.
Author's reply
I'm afraid little Merry did not mince his words. Fortunately Bilbo recognized the love in that letter, and the wise advice, even though it was coming from a seven-year-old. Bilbo will love and care for Frodo as best as he can, with Sam's help. And when Merry comes to visit he will be reassured to see how happy his Frodo is.
PIppinfan1988 · 23 April 2006 · Chapter 7: In Good Hands
Beautiful. You have the most creative muse! I never thought about the next anniversary finishing him off. Of course, there are a lot of things that you've made me reflect on when it comes to Frodo. Well done. Pippinfan
Author's reply
Well, actually, it's rather a popular idea in fanon. I have seen a number of other authors who have the same idea: Lindelea ("A Small and Passing Thing") and Larner ("The Acceptable Sacrifice") come to mind right away as handling that idea beautifully. But it's popular because of what JRRT says about Frodo in his Letters: he says that each anniversary, the illness was worse than the ones before. He also says that it was after the illness just before Elanor was born that Frodo realized he could not stay, and made up his mind to accept Arwen's gift. Many of us have interpreted that to mean that Frodo thought his next anniversary illness would prove fatal, and that was why he had to leave before it occurred.
Bodkin · 23 April 2006 · Chapter 7: In Good Hands
Good hands ... and, ultimately, so many of them! Poor Frodo - yet he couldn't stay. Apart from his health, his departure is absolutely key in allowing Sam to be the hobbit he was meant to be. (Little as he would like to think it.)
Author's reply
Yes, and thanks to his prescience, Frodo was able to know that. You are right. In spite of a lot of lovely AU scenarios in which Frodo stays (which are a good deal of fun, actually), it really is important to the Fourth Age that Frodo move on, and that Sam learn that his own hard-won wisdom can guide the Shire in its rightful place. Yet I think he would rather his friend had been able to stay, and he return to his role as a simple gardener. But I don't think it would have been possible for him in the long run...he had seen and done too much to ever be that way again.
Tigger · 22 April 2006 · Chapter 7: In Good Hands
So bittersweet this POV from Frodo. He knows he has to leave and that does sadden him. Yet on the other hand, Frodo knows Sam will be surrounded by so much love, it will soften the pain of Frodo not being there. Yes, Frodo was leaving his Sam in good hands. The very best. Thanks for sharing this w/us. :o)
Author's reply
That whole time had to be so bittersweet for Frodo. But the knowledge that his dear one *would* be surrounded by love had to reassure him. I am glad you liked it!
pebbles66 · 22 April 2006 · Chapter 4: Marching Orders
Oh, this is so sweet! I loved Merry's letter, and that Bilbo followed his instructions so faithfully.
Author's reply
*chuckle* Bilbo was old enough and wise enough to recognize expert advice when he saw it, no matter that the said "expert" was only seven years old! LOL!
Queen Galadriel · 22 April 2006 · Chapter 7: In Good Hands
Oh, Dreamflower, that is so poignant. It's just...so sad. But Frodo is right: Sam is in good hands, even if things will never be the same in the Shire with Frodo gone. There it is again: "...The next anniversary will finish me..." I've seen that in so many fics, and it's even come into mine (or rather into a piece that I hardly believe is mine, even now), but every time I read or right it it nags at me. What really would have happened? Or maybe I don't want to know. Thank you for sharing this with all of us-I love it! God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
I think that the reason the idea is so popular is because it really exonerates Frodo of the accusation of abandoning his friends. Yet it also makes a good deal of sense considering what he went through. We know from Letters that each anniversary was worse than the one before. I was really influenced in my thoughts on Frodo by this essay, which you might wish to check out: http://www.geocities.com/karynmilos/toodeeplyhurt.html
Elf Friend · 16 April 2006 · Chapter 4: Marching Orders
"If this is too much trubbel trouble for you then you can give him back to me." This was so cute! *squeaks and hugs Merry*
Author's reply
Little Merry is so huggable, isn't he? *grin*
EstellaB · 15 April 2006 · Chapter 6: Essay
"But he would still rather talk about it. You never run out of room when you are talking." Couldn't agree more, Pip.
Author's reply
And of course, it's so true. Although if he was around nowadays and talking on a phone, he might run out of *minutes*, LOL!
EstellaB · 15 April 2006 · Chapter 4: Marching Orders
This is wonderful :) I love it! And Merry is so cute :)
Author's reply
Thank you! Little Merry *is* a cutie-pie, isn't he? 8-D
Andrea · 12 April 2006 · Chapter 6: Essay
I wonder why they say cousins are removed? Why do they remove them? They are still cousins. LOL!!! This is great! I have to admit that I asked myself the same question, but I did not think it through as thoroughly as Pippin did ;-) But the quotation list goes on: He [Merry] only gets angry at me if I am acting like a fool and get myself in real trouble so I try not to do that much though it is hard because I am a Took. Well, well, in German we say "Einsicht ist der erste Schritt zur Besserung", which would be in English (roughly) "comprehension is the first step to improvement". A great reference to the "fool of a Took"! Pippin's conclusion is right, though: You never run out of room when you are talking! Thank you, Dreamflower. That was great fun!
Author's reply
I just figured it would be one of those odd things that Pippin would question--he's so full of questions and curiousity! Yes, I was indeed referencing the "fool of a Took". I get the impression that Gandalf was not being original there, that "foolishness" is something Tooks are famous for, LOL! And no--you don't. Of course you might run out of *time*, but you'd never run out of *room*, *grin*. And I'm so glad you had fun!
Bodkin · 12 April 2006 · Chapter 6: Essay
I'm glad Uncle Dinodas put his foot down and refused to be charmed. Pippin is rather too good at wheedling his way round his family! And he would have the pen of a ready writer, once he got down to it. It's the blankness of the page - it's intimidating. The way he wrote round the edge made me think of those letters from Jane Austen's time when they turned the paper and continued to write between the words to save paper and postage costs. Though only Pippin would stop mid-sentence!
Author's reply
Uncle Dinodas has had generations of Brandybucks--from his own younger sisters and brother, down through his nephews (including Saradoc and Frodo) and on down through Merry and that generation. Pippin is his first Took, but I am sure that he has seen that wide-eyed wheedling before, LOL! Yes, it's the blank paper, and also the fact that his little brain works a good deal faster than his fingers are able to write, that make writing a chore to Pippin. The other reason for that also had to do with writing straight out of the inkpot--it made writing on the back impractical. But you are right--only Pippin would stop in the middle of the sentence--*grin*
harrowcat · 11 April 2006 · Chapter 6: Essay
This is great Dreamflower. No, you never run out of room when you are talking but at least when it is written then it is permanent. But then again when you talk you don't have to worry about spelling!
Author's reply
At that age, I don't think Pip is worried much about permanence, LOL! You are right though, about the spelling.
Larner · 11 April 2006 · Chapter 6: Essay
Now, this has me giggling, Pippin finally starting to write and then not being able to stop, although he apparently has learned SOME discretion along the way as he realizes he mustn't share EVERYTHING Merry's taught him. And the idea of Frodo being sad at some of the things Pippin has done is poignant.
Author's reply
Well, once the topic has ventured onto his beloved cousins, he was bound to run out of room before he ran out of things to say about them. But, yes, he has discovered that older relatives may not really appreciate the finer details of some things Merry has taught him, LOL! I think that Frodo probably rarely, if ever, showed anger towards his cousins. But I also think that risking his disappointment in them would have been a far more effective tool in disciplining them when necessary. A look of disapproval from him would probably cut Pippin to the quick, and Frodo knows it. He loves and believes in them, and has high expectations of them--which means they try mightily to live up to those expectations, and not disappoint him.
Frodo Baggins · 11 April 2006 · Chapter 6: Essay
Poor Pip! Though, I would give anything to be able to write an essay on family instead of transcendentalism. You did a great job with "writing" Pippin's essay. It looks very much like how he talks, which is the natural tendency when writing. Very cute! :) Keep up the excellent work! Namarie, mellon nin! God Bless, Frodo Baggins
Author's reply
Thanks! I can't imagine *what* Pippin would make of transcendentalism, LOL! Maybe you should write *your* essay from *his* POV. What would Pippin Took make of transcendentalism, LOL!
Queen Galadriel · 11 April 2006 · Chapter 6: Essay
*grin* Awww! That's cute. "You never run out of room when you are talking." LOL! To think Pippin was dreading that, and here he filled up a whole page, so full that it doesn't sound like it will be very easy to read. :) God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
I think Uncle Dinodas is up to the challenge. He's tutored generations of young Brandybucks--from his own younger brother and sisters, including Primula, to Saradoc and Merimac, Frodo and Merry in their own turn, though this *is* his first Took, LOL! I'm sure Uncle Dinny will get a kick out of seeing Pippin's opinions of Merry and Frodo. My Pippin's not fond of writing because his mind is so full of ideas that his fingers can't keep up.
Mum's the Word · 10 April 2006 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
What a lovely snippet! *hugs Sam-Dad and Frodo-Lad* Blessings, Mum
Author's reply
(((hugs back))) *grin*
Queen Galadriel · 10 April 2006 · Chapter 2: Eucatastrophe IV: Happy New Year
Yes! That is indeed as it should be! Oh, I almost got tears in my eyes reading this, Dreamflower! I thought of that magnificent scene in the movie when everyone is cheering, and this gave me the same feeling. Just beautiful! As to that other bit of the universe, if you post it elsewhere, I would love to have the web address. God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
Yes, that was the scene I had in mind. And for movie-verse, it was a more than acceptable substitute for Cormallen (and of course, I'd rather have had Cormallen, but it was a beautiful scene nonetheless, and I cheered aloud myself when I saw it.) When I do start posting it, it will be on my LiveJournal, at least to start. I have some bits of it fleshed out, but I need a little more before I start posting.
Andrea · 10 April 2006 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
“You did that just right, my laddie.” Awww, what a sweet little story! Believe it or not, but when I read this, I had exactly the same words in my mind as did Larner. They came from another story, I believe: Maybe there are no Bagginses at Bag End now, but there still is a Frodo!
Author's reply
Great minds think alike of course! I know this is just a little bit of fluff, but I do so love the idea of this little father-son moment, carrying on with his lad as the Gaffer had done with him.
Larner · 10 April 2006 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
Again, Frodo and Sam, hand in hand, entering Bag End, even if roles are now reversed. Lovely moment here as Frodo begins accepting his destiny to be the Frodo of Bag End. Even if no Baggins now lives here, a Frodo does, as is right and proper.
Author's reply
Yes, there will be another Frodo at Bag End, even if not a Baggins--and a Bilbo as well, down the line. I just enjoyed the idea of little Frodo-lad taking after his father very much--and I think he must have, since his branch of the family became the Gardners.
Queen Galadriel · 10 April 2006 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
Awwwww! What a sweet little moment! Reminds me of when I was about that age or a bit older (in Hobbit terms) and it used to delight me so much when my mom would let me take my toy watering can and water the flowers. :) I just love stories about Sam and his children, especially Elanor and Frodo-lad! God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
Yes, just a little flufflet that came to me, using Marigold's elements. I've not done a whole lot yet with Sam's kids, but I do have some in the pipeline, so to speak.
Bodkin · 10 April 2006 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
This makes me think of that little wide-eyed hobbit lass in the movie. I can just see little Frodo squatting there - just as his dad did in times past. Sweet.
Author's reply
Yes, I can imagine that little Frodo-lad takes very much after his father; after all we are told that his family became known as the Gardners of the Hill, so I think that shows the apple didn't fall far from the tree in his case.
harrowcat · 10 April 2006 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
Ooh, fluff for breakfast Dreamflower! Great stuff!
Author's reply
Fluff is lovely, especially wee!hobbit fluff! I adore little Gamgees!
Baggins Babe · 6 April 2006 · Chapter 4: Marching Orders
I wanted to snatch little Merry and take him home with me and feed him ice cream! He really is an adorable and precocious little thing but I love him to bits! The letter with the spelling mistakes and the wistful line: If this is too much trubbel trouble for you then you can give him back to me. was so sweet. Dear Merry, always watching out for his Frodo. Lovely! And Bilbo is a dear old thing.
Bodkin · 6 April 2006 · Chapter 4: Marching Orders
Some very good advice there from young Merry - who must have spent a lot of time thinking about his cousin. I love the pepper information - there's Frodo being all polite about the peppery sausages, but Merry gets down to the business. And Bilbo has the sense to take the advice, too, regardless of it coming from a lad of Merry's age. Not many would. Some would have written a letter of complaint to Merry's parents about his cheek. Lovely tale.
Author's reply
I think you are quite right. Merry *did* think a lot about Frodo--he cared too much not to. I'm not sure how much of it was conscious thought and how much of it was sheer osmosis, from spending as much of his time as he could in his older cousin's company. "...there's Frodo being all polite about the peppery sausages, but Merry gets down to the business." LOL! The differences between the two in a nutshell. Frodo would be polite, and not want to hurt Bilbo's feelings; Merry would be quite practical about it, and make sure Bilbo knew! Bilbo is just as fond of Frodo in his way as little Merry is in his own. But Bilbo is old enough and wise enough to realize that good advice is good advice, no matter how young the giver, especially when it is motivated by love. And he's got enough cheek of his own to be amused by and recognize Merry's own special brand of cheekiness.