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The Minstrel's Quest by Gentle Hobbit	6 Review(s)
Budgielover	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/9/2005
My favorite moment in this chapter was Merry touching Pippin's knee in reassurance that Frodo and Sam were all right, just sleeping. That was such a cousinly moment, not overdone, a guesture of reassurance and affection between them. I loved Farohan's apprehension - he would know to be wary if he knew those two better! More hurt/comfort, please!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/7/2005
Yes, the quest and all that happened to Frodo during it as a crucible, leaving a Hobbit stripped to the bare essential of purpose, I suppose.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/8/2005
Hehe, Farohan's going to learn real quick not to offer things freely to those two. Wonderful chapter as always, I loved Pippin's reflections on his cousin, trying to describe him in all the different ways that he is and finally just ending it with "He's Frodo." Pippin will not be quite prepared for how much Frodo has changed from his task, none of them will be I think. Keep up the good work and good luck on your studies! Author Reply: Thank you! I'm almost finished -- only four weeks to go! Given what Pippin has said in this chapter, I think that he may have slightly more of an idea than some others. He's already noticed quite a change, and just as Frodo changed "from the crucible" of being stabbed by the Morgul knife and volunteering to go on the Quest, so can he perhaps imagine further change from the crucible of Mordor. But you're right -- he cannot know how much that change may have happened or necessarily some of the details why (e.g. what happened at the Sammath Naur). Even Frodo himself, I think, doesn't fully realize it until he reaches the Shire and begins to have the "anniversary illnesses".

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/6/2005
"The Ring-b...Frodo... seems such a puzzle," he said. "Could his Quest have really changed him that much? From a... mushroom-stealer to such a.. an... elf-friend, and...and such a noble being?" Pippin pondered this. At last he spoke. "I wasn't even born when Frodo would make his raids on Maggot's farm. I only became old enough to know him after he had moved to Hobbiton. Living with Bilbo changed him, I think. From what I gather... from what Merry has said, actually, it was as if Frodo had found a kindred spirit within Bilbo--and perhaps the other way around, too. I really like this bit of dialogue. I'll show you why -- here's a little quote from my bulletin board: "The reward is not what you get at the end. The reward is who you become along the way." You have written a beautiful and insightful exchange. In fact, I think that this whole chapter is well done on many levels. Your knowledge of the actual canon and the way that you are presenting this story -- Pippin telling the minstrel about Frodo -- is terrific. A whole new look at the tale. Nice work! Please, update soon! I'll be watching down the road for your next chapter! I have to admit to being a big Frodo fan, so I hope he makes an appearance! Esamen Author Reply: Thank you for your thoughtful review! I can't promise you an appearance from Frodo, but on the other hand, I won't say that there definitely won't be one either. You'll just have to wait and see! :) I like your quote very much and I agree, it is a very appropriate one -- for all of the characters on the Quest. I'm not sure Frodo would wamt to agree with you; I imagine that he'd prefer to return to life in the Shire untroubled by what he went through. Yet even so, he would certainly recognize the value of the changes and, in the end, choose not to forget or lose his knowledge and understanding. After all, he is the one who tells Sam to read stories from the Red Book to the people of the Shire so that they, in remembering the bad times, come to love their land all the more.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/6/2005
"Imaginative, curious,... how can I describe him. Alert and quick of mind, but also full of high thoughts. He wasn't always accepted by other hobbits--with his desire to learn of all the goings on of the outside world, tramping about the Shire, speaking Elvish, being lettered..." What a marvelous description of Frodo! It's fascinating to try to discern how the Ring-bearer was "shaped" into his destiny, either from childhood or during the Quest (or both). Author Reply: That is an interesting question that you raise. I have sometimes wondered if Frodo was "shaped" into his destiny (i.e. by some power from without, e.g. the Valar, or even Iluvatar), or was it simply that he being who he was was what made him take up the Quest when others wouldn't have? In that case, the "selection" process that saw him become the Ring-bearer would have been through his own character and his own choices. I prefer to think of his "evolvement" as the latter, because that implies a greater sense of free will, and it speaks more to his own strength as opposed to being an unwitting pawn of the Powers. I know that this may not be what you meant (you may have just been talking about his own innate character changing through circumstances) but it's something that has interested me nonetheless!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/5/2005
I am so glad that this has updated. I really do love this one. I think Farohan just might be a timy bit afraid of Merry at this point. It must all be so confusing to him with all of the different accounts. I loved Pippin's chattery way of speaking about Frodo and the way that he and Merry want to think about what Farohan can do for them. I wonder what they're up to now? Author Reply: This story will get finished, despite long gaps (after mid-February, things should speed up and smooth out). I'm so glad that you've been so patient! As for Farohan, he is just a little uncertain around Merry right now... I think that Pippin is a lot easier for him to interact with -- he is a little more straightforward, at least! As for what they're up to...

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