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The Life of a Bard by Dreamflower	8 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/11/2006
Good old Frodo. :-) He is so loving toward our young laddie, and yet he doesn't allow Pip to get away with his deed. It could be Frodo merely keeping the lad occupied, too--just in case. I hope Pippin has a new perspective on things. Pippinfan Author Reply: Frodo can be both loving and stern when he needs to. He's not just going to lecture his young cousin--he digs in and finds the root of the problem. Just being able to finally articulate his fears should help Pippin gain some perspective.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/23/2005
Frodo is such a wonderful cousin! I'm so glad he got Pippin to explain what was bothering him so much and was able to make Pippin understand and feel better about things. Frodo does look after both of his cousins and is willing to stick his neck on the line for them if he thinks it is necessary, such as taking Pippin to Brandy Hall despite what Paladin had said. However, even then, Frodo is still very responsible and lets Paladin know as much as possible what is going on and what the problem is. I'm sure he will make Paladin understand when he sees him. It must be quite difficult for a parent to have someone else explain your own child's feelings to you. It's got to be a blow to Paladin's Tookish pride. However, Paladin is also intelligent enough to know that Frodo knows what he is doing and has enough trust and faith in him not to question what he decides is best. Pippin is such a sensitive lad that you have to be careful how you treat him or he will take it the wrong way and then it will backfire in your face, as it did with Paladin. Paladin is very lucky to have such a caring cousin to help him with understanding and taking care of his son. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo will do anything he can for his favorite cousins, and if that means sticking his neck out, so be it. But he does understand the proprieties, and writing to Paladin about the matter is second nature to him. I felt it very ironic and bittersweet writing this chapter, realizing what I am showing about Frodo's concern and Paladin's faith and trust in him, and also realizing how sorely that faith will be tried in only three years time... but at this point in time, Frodo does understand Pippin better than his father does, precisely because Paladin has his own Tookish pride tied up and at stake. And fortunately, Paladin is wise enough to know that. Pippin is very high-strung, and quite apt, as you indicate, to blowing up in just the way you don't wish unless he is handled carefully.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2004
Way to go, Frodo! I love it when Frodo comes to the rescue of one of his cousins. Poor Pippin has a lot on his mind and far too many doubts about his own abilities. I am very glad that Frodo is stepping in and taking Pip to see Merry. Lovely chapter! Author Reply: Frodo would do anything for his younger cousins, he loves them very much. And he knows, if Paladin doesn't seem to, that Pip and Merry need each other.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2004
Frodo is the best person to deal with this. He has the fortune of not having to raise Pippin and live with him everyday. I know how hard it is to keep perspective when you're under the same roof with someone. I still feel sorry for Paladin, even if Frodo doesn't. :) Author Reply: Yes, not only living with him, but holding the ultimate responsibility. For no matter how well Frodo, or Merry, or his Aunt Esme and Uncle Sara, look out for him, when push comes to shove, the decisions about what to do with the lad belong to Paladin and Tina. Frodo still feels sorry for him, but it did anger him that after all these years, Paladin still does not seem to understand the cousins' relationships, that he would not realize how much Merry would miss Pip in spite of his new responsibilities, and that he would try to undermine Pip's confidence in Merry's love and friendship for him.

SharonB	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2004
Wow, I had a few to catch up on here having been out on vacation. Poor Pip, the jig is up. Lucky for him that it was Frodo who caught him out. I can see how Paladin has mixed feelings know that Frodo can probably handle this better than he can. That is grating for parents when the kids get to that age. Sounds like Menelcar has hit the jackpot at Frodo's with all of Bilbo's old songs. And he can learn the tunes while there, Pip can help him with that a little bit. That should smooth things over for Pippin to. Author Reply: This is not the first time my Frodo has made himself a buffer between Paladin and his younger cousins, it's something that started when Pip hit his tweens. Paladin is smart enough to know that in certain circumstances Pip is going to listen to Frodo, when he can't seem to hear his own father. It's hard on Paladin's pride, but he wants what's best for his son. Yes, I'm sure that Menelcar did not realize when he set out to track down Bilbo's songs that he would find such a treasure trove. It may make his disappointment at losing Pip's company a little less hard.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2004
I wonder if one of the reasons for Pippin's scattiness is because he has so many, spread-out parent figures. Eglantine and Paladin, of course - but they mostly provide discipline and disapproval. Frodo for caring, involved, gentle direction and understanding, Merry for love and fun - and a bit of laddish guidance, Sam providing an illustration of work and duty (that one didn't catch on for a long time!) and Esmeralda and Saradoc for the uncle and aunting kind of parenting that involves the better aspects without ever having to be too harsh (because you send them home for that). In some ways he seems to behave like a child that has grown up in a complicated web of step-families - and he is very good at playing them off against each other. When fed-up with his parents, he runs off to Merry or Frodo for some alternative care. Anyway, I'm glad Menalcar didn't get caught 'hobbitnapping' the Thain's son - although it would really be the Thain's son 'bardnapping'. Author Reply: You know, I had not really thought of it that way, but you could well be right; Pippin is the baby of the family, and has many adults taking care of him, all of whom would have different ways of dealing with him. Of course, I see this as a natural development of the way hobbit society works. ( the old "It takes a village" cliche is something I would think hobbits would believe in ) In particular, the large clans of the Tooks and Brandybucks would result in this kind of thing happening. The main difference, as you said, is that in Pip's case, his various caregivers are scattered over the Shire, and he takes turns spending time with them, kind of like a modern child of divorce who is in joint custody. Perhaps the reason that Frodo is able to be such a good buffer is that he has an entirely different experience himself of being raised, from the loneliness of not really belonging as an orphan, to only belonging to one person, as the ward of Bilbo, who lived alone. Hmmm... Yes, I'm glad you spotted that! Pip was very quick to take possession of Menelcar, wasn't he? But I doubt me that Paladin would have seen it that way! Thank you for a very thoughtful review.

pipspebble	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2004
I love the relationship you've written between Frodo and Pippin. It is so hard to be stern with someone you love so much, but you've managed to make Frodo both discipliner and confidant, and comforter all rolled into one. So glad Pippin will be going to Buckland after all. Can't wait for the next chapter! :-) Author Reply: I'm glad that you like it. I see Frodo's relationship with Pippin as quite different than that of Pip and Merry, a result of the large age gap. Frodo has more perspective on things than Paladin is able to have, since he is not Pip's father,( and also since he does not have a Tookish temper, LOL!) Frodo is able to be stern without being harsh, and disapproving without being angry. He's not going to let this behavior pass, but he also is trying to get to the bottom of it, in the hopes of making things better in the future. And Pip can confide his fear precisely because Frodo is not his father, and will understand.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2004
Your Frodo is so wonderfully adult and thoughtful. I love how he's handling this situation. Author Reply: It just seems to me the way Frodo would be. He is, after all, in his forties, even though the Ring froze his physical age at 33, and has looked after his younger cousins all their lives. He loves them a great deal, but not being their parents, he has a bit more perspective on things.

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