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The Life of a Bard by Dreamflower	4 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/8/2006
I so enjoy listening to Pippin and Menelcar singing! I also think Pippin would have made a fantastic bard, but it would have broken my heart to see him when the going got rough. LOL, yes, I am that wrapped up into your world of hobbits! I am really looking forward to reading more about their relationship in Chance Encounters! Pippinfan Author Reply: You are preaching to the choir, hon! I am pretty much that wrapped up in hobbits myself. I know how close to the line between hobby (and I just had to back up and fix that word, LOL!) and obsession I tread. But hobbits make me happy, so I wouldn't have it any other way. Pippin would have made a mighty bard, I think. But as Aragorn found that he had a different destiny than a mere healer, so Pippin has a different one than bard. Both of them will be able to indulge their avocations from time to time, but their lives will be determined by something quite different.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/23/2005
This chapter is the type that makes me sigh with happiness and wish that I could be there at the Green Dragon watching Menelcar and Pippin perform rather than just reading about it. After reading the books and watching the films more times than I can count, I found Frodo to be admirable, wise, sensitive, but most of all, whiney. Oh, he had every reason to complain, being orphaned at a young age, his guardian leaving as soon as he became an adult, and being saddled with that ring which wore him down. But I got so tired of hearing movie!Frodo complain about what a burden the ring was that it coloured my impression of Frodo. In short, I did not appreciate him enough. I should like to thank you for rectifying this grievous error on my part. Your stories have shown Frodo's finer points and explained much about him. I understand him so much more now and so look forward to when he shows up in your stories. I also find that my new-found understanding and appreciation for Frodo has spilled over so that I understand what Frodo is going through in the books and movies and appreciate him much, much more. I can now give him the credit he deserves and I have you to thank for that. It's your own fault for writing so many truly magnificent words that I must quote them back to you: “Don’t be that way, Pippin. What did you expect? You did not tell Master Menelcar that you had a secret to protect, and then you sent him right to me at Bag End. The minute he mentioned he had a potential travelling companion, I knew that it was you.” “I’ve only this to say for now, Pip, and then we’ll leave it alone until we get to Bag End where we will have a bit more privacy. You owe Menelcar a massive and sincere apology.” "Pippin refused to meet Frodo’s eyes. “I did not lie to him,” he told the table, as he drew patterns in the moisture from his mug with his finger." “No, but you did not tell him the truth, either. Think, Pippin. Your father commands the Shire Muster. What do you think would have happened when he learned one of the Big Folk had carried you off with him?” “You do foolish things sometimes, dearest. This one, I think, more foolish than most. You have disappointed Menelcar, and you would have gone off and broken all our hearts. How do you think Merry would have felt?” "Frodo stared, and then rolled his eyes. Sometimes Paladin knew exactly the wrong thing to say. “Pippin, that is so wrong I don’t even know where to begin. But I told you it can wait until we get back to the smial. This is a public place, and we don’t need to discuss anymore of our family business here. Besides, I think your friend is getting ready to sing.”" "The way Frodo handles Pippin in this chapter is masterful. He has such compassion and understanding." As for Pippin, I cannot say it any better than you did: "Watching the performance, Frodo found himself wishing that it could indeed be possible for Pippin to try this life. It obviously suited him. But there was no way that could be. He rather hated himself for having to squash his young cousin’s dreams." I hope the electricity doesn't go off during the hurricane so I can continue to read your stories! Author Reply: Well, I am most pleased and gratified by your words about Frodo, if I have made you appreciate him more. I understand the reasons behind much of what was stated in the movies--PJ wanted to emphasize the power of the Ring, yet the way in which he did so was often to the detriment of other characterizations. And many other fic writers tend to exacerbate this perception of Frodo. Ironically, it's those who claim to love Frodo the best that are often the most guilty of depicting him as weak and whiny. It's a strange paradox. But I have never seen Frodo as weak in any way until after the Quest, and even then it was not a natural weakness, but the last sad bit of malice from the Ring. And his weakness then was physical, and emotional. But the second kind could often be banished when he had others to consider--think of the strength and wisdom he displayed in preventing unnecessary bloodshed during the Scouring, or in gifting his cousins with Crickhollow. blushes at all the kind quotes I hope your power doesn't go off either. It's miserable when it does.

good_one_pip	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2004
I really like the use of old fokesongs. I'd really like to learn the tunes. Maybe it's the "Pippin" spirit inside of me, but quite honestly I hadn't even considered how upset everyone would be if Pip left. It's amazing how much Pippin's feelings can reflect my own sometimes. In fact, I could definitely see a traveling minstrel as an occupation for me if we all lived in Middle Earth. Sadly, we don't, so I'll have to stick to "normal" jobs! ;) Author Reply: If you go to the URLs for the songs that I included, you will hear the tunes! Yes, Pippin is not thinking too much of how everyone would miss him; he's at that age of adolescence when one thinks one is invisible and unworthy. Naturally that keeps him from thinking other people would be sad to lose him. And really, Pip would have made a good minstrel, that's what makes it sad. But he was fated for another destiny, as we all know.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2004
How bittersweet! Pippin could have made a very happy (and successful) bard, at that. And this was a very clever detail: "Your father commands the Shire Muster. What do you think would have happened when he learned one of the Big Folk had carried you off with him?” Author Reply: I do believe he would have been successful. And probably happy at first. I'm not too sure how happy he would have been when the homesickness finally hit. He is, after all, a hobbit, even if he is a Took. Yes; can you see Paladin just calmly allowing his son to be spirited out of the Shire? My Paladin, anyway, was furious three years later when it finally did happen!

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