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The Life of a Bard by Dreamflower	12 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/8/2006
Yeay! Frodo to the rescue! :-) Seems poor Pippin is the epitome of angsty adolescence--and the Thainship being the cruxt of it. I hope Frodo can talk some hobbit-sense into him. Pippinfan Author Reply: "...the epitome of angsty adolescence..." Yes indeed. I see in Pippin a certain type of adolescent male--generally well-meaning and kind-hearted, but extremely impulsive and easily bored, and having somewhat of a short-circuit in the "thinking of consequences" department, and in the judgement department. Add to this the pressures of growing up, and in Pippin's case the pressures of knowing he is "doomed" to a future he dreads, and add on top of it a good sized dose of parental misunderstanding, and that's what you end up with. Still, he has a sound foundation in his childhood, and eventually will have that to build on, when all the other is out of his system.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/23/2005
This chapter is jam-packed with little treasures. “You didn’t say I couldn’t go to Bag End.” Now here's a multi-faceted little diamond. Let's start with how clever Pippin is in his skillful phraseology. That hobbit could be an attorney for all the attention he pays to the nuances of the meanings of words. It sounds just like statements I've made to deceive someone into drawing an incorrect inference that I did not actually say. It's the perfect statement to make Paladin believe Pippin went to visit Frodo, yet Pippin would not be lying by not visiting him. The next level for this statement is its obvious terseness and adolescent rebellion and anger. Our bright, sunny, and charming lad has become moody and is having problems growing up. Life without Merry's almost constant presence is confusing and lonely. Trying to live up to Paladin's expectations is daunting. Accepting that he will one day be Thain and that the reason for his becoming Thain will be due to the death of his father is downright scary and something he cannot face. For all that he and Paladin have problems right now, Pippin loves his father dearly and does not want the Thainship if it means losing his father. Unfortunately, Pippin and his father are having a lot of difficulty communicating and are not even really trying to communicate with each other. Instead, they talk around each other, Paladin being the responsible parent doing what he thinks is best for his son and Pippin feeling that his father does not understand, but unable and too proud to explain how he really feels. Paladin's subconscious desire for Pippin to actually go to Bag End so that Frodo can deal with him also speaks volumes about the state of his relationship with his son. It is far easier for the adolescent to listen to someone whom the adolescent is not obligated to listen to, someone who is more on their level and whose advice can be more readily listened to as advice from a mentor, like Frodo. Pippin, as do many adolescents, views his parent as the source of all of the rules and changes in his life that are creating such turmoil within him. Instead of accepting responsibility for his own actions and feelings, he unjustly blames it on Paladin and thinks Paladin is only interested in him as the future Thain rather than as his son. If only Paladin and Pippin would open up to each other, then Paladin would understand why Pippin does not want to be Thain and be able to comfort his son, make him understand that he felt the same way, and let him know that he is so hard on Pippin because he is training him so that he will be ready when the time comes. But they both are too stubborn and proud to confide in the other. "The Steward of Minas Tirith had two sons. If a wandering minstrel had tried to entice either of them away for an apprentice, said minstrel would be cooling his heels in a Gondorian prison..." Menelcar's assessment is pretty accurate. After all, Denethor did resent the way Faramir looked up to Gandalf and I think blamed Gandalf for the death of Boromir. Thankfully, Menelcar will not have to suffer such wrath from the Thain. Pippin showed his cleverness again in using Tom and Jolly Cotton to find out if Sam or Frodo were in the Green Dragon. Unfortunately for Pippin, Frodo was one step ahead of him. It's not easy to be sneaky when someone knows you so well. Frodo knew exactly what Pippin was doing. Despite Pippin's not having thought things out fully (because he did try to think them out but was thwarted by his run-in with Paladin), I feel sorry for Pippin. It won't be easy for him to have his dreams go up in smoke and accept that he will have to become a responsible Thain-in-training. It's not easy to accept the limitations that are pressed upon us by society and by our circumstances. Especially with someone who feels things so passionately and deeply, his hopes soar and then to have them dashed away, he will plummet once again unless Frodo can find away to gently make him understand. I look forward to the day when Pippin and Paladin understand one another and have a loving father-son relationship. It would help if Paladin understood how important Pippin's music was to him and if Pippin understood how important he was to his father, Paladin. Author Reply: As I have said before, Pippin doesn't mind lying once in a while, but this was not a time when he needed to. A terse statement like that conveyed exactly the meaning he was after. And you are quite right in your assessment of his level of anger and frustration. His letters are always succinct anyway, but this one is to the point of near-rudeness, and meant to show his state of mind. Well, of course, a lot of this story as I said is based on a dynamic I have observed between many teenage boys and their fathers, most especially my own son and my husband. It is exactly as you describe it, and it is nothing short of miraculous when the relationship can be mended as the child approaches adulthood, and loses that moodiness brought on by the turbulence of puberty. Exactly. Menelcar would have no trouble realizing the implications here. Yep, Frodo one step ahead all the way. Frodo will do his best to be gentle with Pippin, we'll see how well he succeeds. It does happen. In my Shire, they are not estranged ever after, the way some authors depict them. But there will be a little awkwardness at first in smoothing over the rough spots. Especially when Pippin first returns from the Quest.

Nina the powerwriter	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/5/2004
Good chapter :) And Pip had everything worked out too, but Frodo was one step ahead of him. It would have been interesting to see what happens to Pip if he had went with Menelcar, but Pip's place is at the Great Smials, so I hope he learns his lesson after this! Author Reply: Good old Frodo, one step ahead describes it perfectly. He knows his cousins, very well indeed! I agree, it might have been fun to see Pip on the road with Menelcar, but that would have definitely been AU, which is not what this one is about.

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/5/2004
Oh no! Poor Pip, getting his hoped crushed by Frodo. Can´t wait for more :) Author Reply: Yes, well, Frodo couldn't let it pass, could he? More soon. I'm hoping maybe today.

Elenar	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/3/2004
I really liked seeing more of what Paladin is feeling. Great chapter! I'm looking forward to more. Author Reply: I have a lot of backstory for Paladin in regards to the Thainship, and it's a bit different take than some other folk have. My Paladin is not a bad guy, so I do try to show his side of it. He's mainly just a confused father trying to figure out his way through his son's adolescence. He's only had girls to deal with before, and his wife took most of the flack with them, LOL! It doesn't help that he has his own generous portion of Tookish pride and stubborness.

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/3/2004
Oh, this is great. I am really loving this story. You are doing a terrific job! Thanks for all your hard work, and I hope you keep on writing! and remember, lots of us out here still love Frodo, and Sam, and a little h/c won't hurt at all (to us readers.) Can't wait for the next installment! Author Reply: Trust me, I'll be writing as long as the plot bunnies keep multiplying! This story has been on a brief pause while I got some Challenge fics out of the way, and while I work out some more of the songs. I dearly love all four of our lads; Pip's feelings are hurt, but he'll be offered some cousinly comfort before the end.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/3/2004
Uh-oh, Pip, now you're in trouble. Seems Pippin's plan to make sure Frodo wasn't in the Green Dragon didn't work too well. It also sounds as if Paladin is counting on Frodo to take care of things. Of course, Paladin doesn't know all of it at this point, does he? Waiting for more. Author Reply: No, Pip didn't think things out too well, did he? Paladin is hoping for Frodo's help, although he's too proud to come right out and ask for it. No, he doesn't have a clue as to how close he was coming to driving Pip off altogether.

Marion	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/3/2004
Of course, having said all that (and what a lot I've typed below), I also whish that Pippin would tell his father why he doesn't want to be Thain (because in order to become Thain Paladin would have to die first) (this bit is just meant as a counter-balance to all the 'Paladin should talk to Pippin why he wants him to be more responsible' reviews you're no doubt are getting ) Author Reply: The communication on both sides is pretty dismal. Pippin is not really making himself clear, because he doesn't want to think about it, much less talk about it. He tends to be in denial about things happening to his loved ones. ( In other of my fics, he gets very upset when he finds out he is in an early version of Frodo's will.) And Paladin has his Tookish pride keeping him silent. But sooner or later, some of the barriers will begin to fall.

Marion	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/3/2004
Hah! Busted! I so hope Frodo won't 'spoil him rotten' this time. Yes, that's right; as much as I love Pippin I'm siding with Paladin on this. Parents are not in life to be their offspring's 'best buddy', but to be their parent: to love, teach and prepair their offspring, which is what Paladin is doing, even though he's clearly exasperated by Pippin's tween-tantrums. There's a reason Frodo has 'so much more patience with Pippin' - Frodo only has to deal with Pippin for short periods. Frodo can afford to 'spoil Pippin rotten': he can return Pippin to the Smials afterwards. Granted, Frodo's gentle admonitions seem to work, but this is to do with the fact that Frodo is the far-away spoiling cousin and not the parental unit as well as Frodo's wisdom. Humans teens (and Hobbit tweens) seem to want to rebel against their parents, no matter how loving, kind and friendly they are. It has something to do with confirming bounderies as well as trying to broaden those boundaries. (I'm not kidding you know. Only last week a friend told me how, in the seventies, his parents tried to be his 'best friend' and insisted since babyhood that he called them by their christian names in stead of 'mamma' and 'pappa'. "Other children had NORMAL parents", he told me, "they could rebel against them and still know they could be relied on to pull their chestnuts out of the fire if needed, but MY parents insisted that I called them Helen and Bart and wanted my opinion on every decision they made. It was HORRIBLE!") But anyway, back to Pippin. I hope Frodo makes it perfectly clear to Pippin (in his gentle way no doubt) that what he tried to do is not only wrong (one should never run away from their troubles) but also very dangerous. If Frodo had not discovered Pippin's little plan Menelcar would no doubt have been hunted down and shot by the Hobbitry-at-arms as a kidnapper! Whoops, I've been typing quite a lot now, so I'd better call it a day.. Author Reply: I think you've captured the dynamic very well. Frodo is NOT his parent, but his much loved older cousin. Frodo does not have to deal with him on a daily basis, and when he does, Pip is usually nicer than he is to his parents, because after all, parents are parents and somewhat take for granted, while Frodo is someone he looks up to to a certain extent and so tries to impress. Now,now stop looking over my shoulder while I'm working...

RogerGamgee	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/3/2004
Ah, the impetuous nature of youth! I recall those days not so long ago, when I thought I knew everything and didn't have a care in the world. What a time it was! Unfortunately, it looks like the jig is up for Pippin. I'm half hoping he tries to make a break for it and get past Sam. That would be a sight to see! I only hope Frodo can make him understand just what it is that Pippin could be getting himself into. Lovely story thus far...keep it up! Author Reply: Yes, what was that old saying: "Let teenagers rule the world while they still know everything"? Frodo has a way of making things clear to Pip, hopefully he hasn't lost the knack.

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