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| It Takes a Took by Dreamflower | 12 Review(s) |
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| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/28/2005 |
| These poor, sweet hobbits can't catch a break, can they? :-D I hope you can see that I'm enjoying the Weathertop moments? I can be morbid, I suppose. I really like Diamond's frankness with her mistress; shows courage and strength in her personality--both of which will highlight Pippin's. I think she's hooked, if you ask me! ;-) Pippinfan Author Reply: Well, I knew from the timing of the story that it would overlap Frodo's canonical anniversary illness, so I had to deal with that, and it gave me a chance to explore the idea that Merry might be affected by Frodo's distress. And of course you can be morbid if you like--although I think it is not so much morbidity, as an anticipation of events. That's one thing about writing fanfic--you know what's going to ulitmately happen. I'm glad you are seeing these qualities in Diamond, it's how I think she would *have* to be, to be worthy of Pippin. And just between you and me, I think she's fallen hook, line *and* sinker...;-D | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/17/2004 |
| O, interesting! ...that Merry should be affected by the anniversary of Weathertop. Quite a gripping account. Thanks! Author Reply: As you probably know, the relationships between the cousins and Sam fascinates me. I could see Merry being affected by it to a certain extent, and hope I showed that without overdoing it. | |
| good_one_pip | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/5/2004 |
| I was right! Something was definitely wrong. Just the last word of the chapter - weathertop - oh, it gave me shivers! Oh, does Sam have to go through this agian. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: Poor Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin! You have to feel for them. Great way to build the suspence though. And nice allusion to the "honeycakes" incident! Author Reply: I am afraid that Frodo did have to, JRRT said so. I suppose it was cruel of me to have Merry stricken as well, but I have an explanation of that. I thought a little happy memory would lighten up the mood just a bit. Thanks for reading and reviewing! 8-) | |
| Hai Took | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/5/2004 |
| I liked the way you described the friendship bonds between Fredegar and Folco! That is such a good idea and that the Travellers would have a kind of bond like that only stronger is great! Pippin being upset about the healers questioning Frodo and Sam seemed very characteristic. I would think after everything they went through that all four of them through their mutual understanding would feel a certain amount of protectivness for the others and you wrote it very well. Oh dear, Frodo and Merry being rather down with the same thing is frightening! Is Merry affected because he killed the Witch-King? There have been varying stories about Merry's arm going icy on the anniversary of the day he killed him but I hadn't heard one like this before, but it makes since if that is the right thing. It is a good thing that Aragorn sent them home with athelas tea! I hope it helps! Looking forward to more! Thank you! Author Reply: I think of Freddy's and Folco's friendship as a sort of mirror of Merry's and Pippin's, and Freddy's grief a way of exploring what *could* have been if either of them had lost the other on the Quest. But of course their bonds are even stronger. Yes, one of the things that has come about as a result of Pippin's experiences is that he has grown up to the point that he feels protective of those who are older than he. All his life his cousins have protected him, but now, he feels protective towards them as well. Merry killing the WK is only a part of it. I hope to explain a bit in the next chapter. I think Aragorn and Elrond would have sent our lads home with every bit of help they could give. Athelas leaves and tea would have been something they would easily have supplied them with. Thank *you* for reading and reviewing! | |
| Auntiemeesh | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/4/2004 |
| I like the way you built up to Merry and Frodo's trouble. I was trying to see what the date was, but you cleverly didn't have it listed. Sneaky you. :) I think it's interesting that Merry's wound is bothering him on Frodo's anniversary, and that he was subliminally bothered by it all day without knowing what was wrong. Author Reply: I tried leaving a couple of little hints, but I guess I was *too* subtle, LOL! I mention that it's more than a week since Frodo's birthday, and a couple of things about the weather, and so forth, but I don't think anyone caught on. On the other hand, I thought it would be kind of a sledgehammer to have one of them saying "Oh, by the way, it's the sixth of Winterfilth, isn't it?" and would defeat the purpose of them forgetting it. *grin* I have some interesting theories about Merry and his connection to Frodo. I touched on it just a little bit, in the discussion of family bonds in the last chapter. I'll probably explain it a little more, but I don't want to get too sidetracked away from Pip and Diamond. | |
| SharonB | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/4/2004 |
| Ah, you weave your story so nicely in and around actual LOTR scenes. Pip is quite concerend about both Merry and Frodo. At least each of them have someone to watch over them and take care to help ease the hurt. LOL, yes males will be males when it comes to medicine. But I am Damond feels confidant enough to tell Mistress Lavender about Pip's concerns over her quesitoning Frodo. And good that they realize the conneciton those 4 have with each other. And now Diamond and LAvender see jsut how close those 4 ae bound to each other. I'm sure that's a real schock to them. Author Reply: Well, I knew I would have to deal with this. And it makes a nice little reversal to have Pippin taking care of Merry for a bit, in the middle of a story about people taking care of Pip; Merry and Frodo will always have someone who loves them to watch over them. Diamond is a confident person, or she would never have decided to be a healer. The conneciton between the Travellers, and between the cousins in particular, is one of my favorite things to write about. Lavender and Diamond are seeing a bond stronger than they have ever seen before. | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/4/2004 |
| Ah, I thought it might be an anniversary thing. This is the second time Sam's forgot, though he does have other things on his mind. I suppose Merry's having sympathy pains or something like that. Poor hobbits. Author Reply: Yes, indeed. I knew at the start that having this story take place shortly after The Birthday meant that I would also have to deal with the Weathertop anniversary. I wish I could have handled it a bit differently, but I'm trying to stay mostly canon here; actually, I find it difficult to believe that Sam *would* have forgotten again, but JRRT said so, and I have to deal with it. This way, he sort of remembered sub-consciously, but was unable to make the connection until it was too late. Sympathy pains is more or less what it is. I'm hoping to give a bit more explanation of Merry's reaction in later chapters. But it's a sub-plot, so I don't want to get too side-tracked. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/4/2004 |
Merry is worring again,but I think he worries over everything. Sam is worried about something and that something turns out to be frodo... Ah,my very good.... Poor merry reliving hat happened to frodo,curious as to how his arm got cold again, and frodo is reliving it too... Great job, keep up the good work.... Author Reply: Merry is one of the world's natural worriers. It comes with the protectiveness. Sam should have realized what it was that was bothering him; of course, Frodo didn't give him a chance. I hope perhaps, to explain a little bit about the connection between Merry and Frodo. Thanks. This chapter and next were difficult, having to work into canon, but I'm hoping that after this the plot can move a bit faster. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/4/2004 |
| Frodo must be a terrible patient for anyone to try to help. He will never ask for any help for himself. He's one of those who will crawl away into a corner, denying there is anything wrong until it is too late for anyone to intervene. I hope Sam can help him. Good thing Merry was with Pippin. Lavender was quite understanding about the slip of Diamond's tongue - and honest enough to acknowledge that she was being curious. Author Reply: That's Frodo. The Ring and Saruman left his already fragile self-esteem in complete tatters. When the darkness comes over him, he doesn't feel as if he deserves any relief. Yes, it was. The comfort between these two goes both ways. Lavender is honest and fair, if a bit blunt and tactless. Haven't you known doctors like that, who are excellent at what they do, but are lacking just a little bit in bedside manner? | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/3/2004 |
| Wonderful as always!! I like Merry bathing Pippin, he has the chatty detachment that is proper for such a time. (Reminds me of a M*A*S*H episode with Margaret bathing a patient) The build up you've had to Frodo and Merry's plight has also been great. And I loved Diamond plucking up the courage to talk to her mistress. Well Done :) Author Reply: Merry's given Pippin a lot of baths in his lifetime, and I think probably several when he was convalescing. I'm flattered to be compared to M*A*S*H, that's one of my favorite shows. I realized as soon as I started this fic, that due to the time in which I set it that I was going to have to deal wtih Frodo's anniversary illness for his wound from the Morgul blade. I'm glad it came across okay. Diamond would need to be able to talk to her mistress honestly in order to be any good as healer. Thank you! | |