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A Took by Any Other Name by Lindelea	9 Review(s)
Eirinn Leigh	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 11/20/2015
Oh Merimac! Oh Ferdi!

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/7/2005
Wow, these are a couple of powerful chapters. Integrating Pippin's illness into his memories of fire was well done. Paladin as Denethor was completely believeable given Pip's history with his father. I'm sure there was more than one time Pippin felt like the Thain was willing to sacrifice him. And at the end, you know Pippin can't die, but I didn't know how you would get him past the crisis. Poor, poor Merry! I felt just about as disoriented at the beginnig of this chapter as Pippin. I couldn't understand what was going on, how he was well, but then I remembered when Farry died in the cave-in story, and how he floated, and tried to interact with those around him, and didn't know he was dead. Pippin was dead then, but I was confused about Merrimac, who could interact with him. It took me nearly through the chapter to understand that Merrimac was dead too - I had not been expecting it at all. Pippin trying to care about the dead hobbit in the tub, and caring about his mother and Merry, but being unable to sustain feelings of upset was a comforting sort of thing. I also liked very much the idea that the Brandybucks had settled Pippin and taught him through kindness and affirmation (a lesson we could all stand to have reinforced). In Merimac's words, there are nice echos of Frodo's naming of Sam's children, and how the Thorn in the Shire Beginnings story was given to see some of the future as he died. I guess it was his time to go, and he had no regrets, and it certainly wraps up very neatly how Pippin never learned of Ferdi's ban. Merrimac can be content that even in his death, he continued to protect and serve - preventing a tragedy that certainly would have cut short a lot of fiction! Author Reply: hugs Glad to know you're reading. Someone else pointed out the Pippin/Paladin relationship in my story was eerily like Faramir/Denethor and some of this story just grew out of that observation, made some time ago. Merimac had no regrets; he'd lived life to the fullest and loved to the best of his ability. Now he could look foward to the Feast, and since he'd been granted a glimpse of Eternity before he left, he had perfect confidence in saying what he did say to Pippin. I have a young one reading me her own hobbit story at the moment, so I had better stop pondering and get offline and listen! Thanks!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/7/2005
‘Honestly!’ he said in his perturbation. ‘Can’t a fellow have a bath in decent privacy? What is the matter with all you folk?’ I loved that! So like Pippin to make a joke in spite of the situation. I also love how you managed to see to it that Merimac explained a portion of his message and gave Pippin word of his mother, but decided to keep the rest quiet. It works wonderfully well and explains why Pippin never found out about the ban. I was sad to see Merimac die, but he seemed so at peace with it all that I found it strangely comforting. Do hope that was what you were going for there. LOL I also like that the Hobbit after-life is refered to as "the feast". Very fitting indeed! Author Reply: Yes, that is what I was going for there: I figured Merimac had already glimpsed Eternity and was allowed to linger for a few moments to talk to Pippin. Sort of like the ghost stories of our world, about people who had to "finish some business" before going to their rest. Yes, I am comforted, when a character in a story must die, to think of the "unending feast, where there is no time and no tears, and all you ever lost is restored to you". Thanks!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/7/2005
Some near- (well, almost post-) death experience. I'm glad he was able to have a few words with Uncle Badger. I hope he remembers them - even to the words about not telling him the whole truth because it would lead to his and Merry's death. Mind you, if he remembers, he won't have to think about what names to give his offspring, as Unc has just told him. Oh well, he'll just have to remain ignorant. And alive. On the whole, it's probably better. Author Reply: Ignorant, and alive. Yes, better, I'd say, than wise, and dead. Pippin will remember a little bit of his conversation with Merimac, but not much. And he won't remember it as a conversation, as such. More plausible that way. Thanks!

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/6/2005
Wow! Gracious that was frightening! For everyone to be so worried and then for Pippin to come to very much himself. I'm glad that the Badger was able to speak with Pippin. I was wondering how you were going to work around Pippin being so sick yet riding out to Tookland. How terrible it would have been for Saradoc to loose his brother and his nephew! That Merimac was able to see what would have happened and to see the children in Pippin's future and even who people were like Faramir and all. Very well done and exciting! I hope there's a little more though, of course there would have to be wouldn't there? I mean after all this story is about their first son being named! Looking forward to more! Author Reply: ...and Pippin is "very much himself" in the next chapter. Whew. We've got through the tunnel and are back in the sunlight again. And yes, it won't be over until you see the chapter entitled "Epilogue". Just need to tie up a few loose ends, yet. Thanks!

Connie B.	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/6/2005
Wow! That was... I can't describe it. I would never have guessed the Merimac was about to die. Now I guess Pippin's going to have to find a different motivation to return home. Guess it is good though that Merimac wasn't able to tell him the whole situation if it would have caused both Pippin and Merry to meet an untimely end. That was too weird. I mean that in a good way. Now I'm really curious about what's going to happen now that Pippin is beginning to recover. Thanks for having Merimac forshadow the births of all eight of Pippin's children. I never can seem to remember all their names or the birth order. It was nice having them all conveniantly listed. Thanks. Connie B. Author Reply: If you look in the Family Trees in Appendix C you'll see Merimac's death date. It sort of worked into this story. Otherwise I would have had to bonk the hobbit on the head and had him suffer amnesia! After all, we know that Pippin doesn't return to Tookland for another four years, and when he does it's clear he didn't know about Ferdi and the Ban. Well, now you have a nice list of all the little Tooks! Glad it's a convenience. Thanks.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/6/2005
A bath in privacy he's demanding? After all that???? Love it! Sorry to see the Badger go, but glad he was glad of it. Author Reply: Yes, in my view of the hobbit afterlife, "it is an unending feast, where there is no time, and no tears, and all you've ever lost is restored to you". Which means that just about the same moment Merimac arrives at the feast, his family and loved ones will meet him there, even after living long and full lives. What a concept!

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/6/2005
Capital!!!! Marvelous!! A wonderful near death/death experience!!! Awesome!! And my little brother lives!! What more could I ask from a chapter? ??? Nothing :) Author Reply: Lovely! So glad you enjoyed it. And the next chapter is a treat, with Pippin up to his usual standard, IMHO.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 3/6/2005
Oh that was splendidly done! I love that Merimac was able to give Pippin the truly important message: that his mother loved him and was well. And I loved the way he was able to tell him a bit of what is to come, though I wonder how much of it he will remember when he recovers. Of course, everyone will be very sad about Merimac, but I am glad that he got in one last thing before he left! You asked about the Denethor/Faramir, Pippin/Paladin nightmare. I actually used that in my very first story, "When the King Comes Back (the Great Smials)". I don't think my use of it was nearly as vivid as yours, though. Author Reply: Ah, thank you. Steered you wrong, a little earlier, when I referred to Merimac's "swan song". This was really it. But it was a good ending for Merimac, the best I could do for him, and I think it is the ambition of every hobbit to die peacefully in his sleep after a fine meal and satisfying smoke (and relaxing bath, if needed). You're right about his not remembering much, as will come out in the final chapter before the Epilogue. (And the final chapter is scheduled to be the next posted, unless it splits itself in half. I simply cannot post much over 3,000 words at a time with our slow connexion!) Thank you for the "steer" to your story. Your first? Very well done, indeed. And I do appreciate the direction, for you are among the ranks of prolific writers (join the Club!) and I didn't (and still don't, though I wish I did) have time to go through each one on the list in search of Pippin's nightmare... ...though of course you are on my "want to read" list... Perhaps if our schedule ever slows down, and I have more time to read again. I can print out chapters to take to the playground, perhaps. (I'm still trying to read more than half a chapter at a time of Larner's epic tale! And then there's your Pippin-as-a-minstrel story that I never finished, and Auntiemeesh's Cormallen pieces, and Thundera Tiger's latest... whew. At least I'll never be bored.)

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