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A Merry Old Inn by Dreamflower	9 Review(s)
harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/18/2016
I thought that I had read all your work at least once but I don't remember this delightful chapter! I am glad that Bilbo remembered his dream and cast it into verse for the rest of us to enjoy. I bet Bilbo was wishing for more than simple willow bark but perhaps the Gaffer was still developing his brew. Now there is another plot bunny hopping away..... How and why did he develop his famous hangover cure and get up the courage to share it with Bilbo?

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/20/2006
So--that's how it came to be written, then? Wonderful!

Inkling	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/11/2006
What a fun idea, Dreamflower! Just reviewed this for the MEFAs, but thought I'd drop you a note here too. Imitating the style of The Hobbit seems like it wouldn't be easy, but you do it very well. Author Reply: I did see your lovely review on the MEFAs! I'm so glad to see folks reading this--Bilbo does not get nearly the attention he deserves! I was a bit worried that imitating the style in The Hobbit would not work, and it would come out all cutesy, but I guess I must have gotten it close enough. I know JRRT himself wasn't fond of the way he wrote, but I just love that wry and whimsical tone he uses, and I hope that I came close to it myself. As to whether or not it was easy: whenever I write a gap-filler, I try to immerse myself in the original source material for a day or two, so that I will kind of absorb the tone and style by osmosis, so to speak. Mostly, I tried to be careful not to overdo it. I'm glad you thought I succeeded.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/4/2006
This is the only fic I've ever read set in "The Hobbit," and I love it! This really made me laugh: “G’night, Blin-Balin, why would I beel fadly? I mean bad feely? I mean…” Balin chuckled. “Shh, Mr. Baggins, go to sleep.” And he went out and left him there. snickers into shirt sleeve Poor Bilbo! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I know. There aren't very many. And I don't know why--there are some lovely gaps there just aching to be filled. But there are a few good ones. Daw the Minstrel has a lovely long one here on SoA called "Tangled Web", from the Wood-elves POV. Yes, poor Bilbo. This will be an evening he'll never forget.

Dana	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/1/2006
Do you know what? You really got it -- the sound of the Hobbit, at least, that's what I think. And this? This was utterly delightful! Also, you're quite clever, and I felt like letting you know. grin Author Reply: Clever? grin (she said I was clever!) I did try to get the sound of The Hobbit, that narrative voice JRRT uses is so different from the one in LotR, I just had to keep my fingers crossed, and hope that it did not come across as "cutesy". I'm so glad you liked it. This is one of my least read pieces, I think just because it's only Bilbo, you know, and he doesn't get enough appreciation.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/11/2005
How delightful to visit with Bilbo and the Dwarves again! You really captured the cheery writing style of "The Hobbit" in this. To set it in The Prancing Pony and let us see Mr Butterbur interact with Frodo's uncle so many years before Frodo's own adventure was very interesting. "His real reason was to have a chance to look about and see the sights, for our Mr. Baggins was nothing if not curious." Ah, that Tookish influence! It was good to see that in the short span of time since their travels started, Bilbo had learnt so much about the ways and mannerisms of Dwarves. One of the things that is so nice about Bilbo is the way he is not only so open to learning about new cultures and peoples, but also embracing them. Wonderful incorporation of the old childhood rhyme about the Old Man in the Moon. No wonder the hobbit lads and lasses in later years always enjoyed singing these songs of Bilbo's! Author Reply: How very nice to see another review for this one after so long a time! It's one of my very own favorites. I'm glad you thought I got the style of "The Hobbit" down, as that was what I was trying to do. I wanted it to read as though it could have been a chapter. Bilbo's Tookish side was very much to the uppermost at this point. I just thought it would be a fun bit of irony if Bilbo had his visit in mind when he wrote the song that got Frodo in trouble there later! I am so glad to see you are enjoying these!!

good_one_pip	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/11/2004
It wasn't until Bilbo actually started dreaming that I realized where the story was going. The song that got Bilbo's dear nephew in trouble at the same inn years later! Very clever. Well we know from your "respectable hobbits don't dance on tables" isn't true for Brandybucks and Tooks! Well, I guess Bilbo was having a "Tookish" moment at the Prancing Pony. And what a fun place to have it! Author Reply: I'm glad you didn't catch on right away; I was afraid I was being a bit too obvious. I thought it would be a neat peice of irony if Bilbo had gotten the idea for the song from having stayed at The Prancing Pony on his journey--and the description of "a merry old inn, beneath an old grey hill" fits perfectly! Must have been, grin. Bilbo, I think did not yet realize he had given up being "respectable" by hobbit standards, for good and all, when he left on an Adventure. I think The Pony is a perfect place for a "Tookish" moment. 8-D

SharonB	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/11/2004
So the Prancing Pony has been in the Butterbur family for some time then. It's a fun little jaunt back to earlier times. It's good to see Bilbo adapt to the differences in Bree from what he knows in the Shire. Yep, more hobbits should journey as far. And is that where Bilbo came up with his song? Froma alcohol induced dream, LOL. Too bad poor Bilbo did not have any money to buy some extra snacks for himself. Those other races just don't have enough meals to really feed a hobbit well. ;-) Author Reply: The inn has been in the Butterbur family for generations, we are told! I thought it would be fun to do a story set during The Hobbit. I've been in a very Bilboish mood lately, and this little idea just kind of came to me. The song was from this dream, apparently. I think all the elements were there, ;-) And no, none of the other races understand quite enough about hobbits and food, LOL! 8-D

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/11/2004
How lovely to see a Bilbo and the Dwarves story! I bet Bilbo wishes he hadn't been quite so keen to knock back those large tankards of ale! Bree, with its easy-going mixture of races, must seem very odd to someone who had never left the Shire before. I like the fact that it is quite egalitarian - no one race seems to subordinate another. Author Reply: There don't seem to be many of them, do there? I wonder why not? Bilbo is perfectly lovely, and there are lots of gaps in The Hobbit. I'll bet he wishes so, too. I kept thinking of Pip, saying "It comes in pints?" JRRT describes Bree so, saying that in no other place in the world do we find this excellent arrangement of Big Folk and Little Folk getting along so well.

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