Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

If I had a Hammer by Grey Wonderer	14 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/31/2005
ROTFL!!!! Oh, weren't you just so funny! There I was, trapped at work and not a toffee apple to be found in the place!! I made a mental note to read this yesterday, but got sidetracked. At least I wouldn't have choked on my jello when Merry started dragging every hobbit in the Shire to the toffee apple wagon--how many did he have? A dozen?? I'm thinking, she's (you're) doing this on purpose! All because I said I had a taste for toffee apples--well, young lass, its a good thing I keep an emergency stash of caramel dip in my fridge or I would have been out at the market straight after work buying a toffee apple. LOL, your Merry was making me salivate for one of his apples! I actually brought an apple with me to work for lunch, but was afraid to eat it because I thought it was the last one--had to make sure I had an apple for my caramel dip later on! LOL, that darned Merry! I couldn't help it--I laughed my butt off right there in the storeroom; thankfully, stick-in-the-mud was taking his lunch break outside. I have enjoyed this most excellent tale from beginning to end! LOL, that is, all the way to the toffee apples! It is always a complete pleasure to read a tale from Grey Wonderer! Now...if only poor little Pip can swing this contest, we'll all be sitting pretty. I am curious to see whom he's going to gift his wheelbarrow to... As usual, a fantastic chapter--thank you for sharing! Pippinfan Author Reply: Hehehe! Check out the reviews. Your toffee apples were the hit of the chapter. I can't thank you enough for suggesting it. Hope you got one too because Merry was going through them at an alarming rate. I'll have to remember to put toffee apples in more of my stories. After all, I recall being hungry for stew for at least a week after reading "Roses"! I could do with a bit of stew even now. The last chapter is finished and I will most likely post it in the morning, as in (wee small hours of the morning) and then you will have your answers about the contest and the wheelbarrow. Hope I surprise you a bit, but not counting on that as you know me too well. Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews and support for this story! I am always anxious to hear what you think of a chapter and you have been very generous with your reviews! Thank you for that and for the idea of the toffee apples!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/31/2005
Great chapter! I'm still grinning when I think of the toffee apples and their beautiful vendor :) Pippin did a great job in answering the judges questions, and he did that in a very entertaining way! LOL! Last but not least, everything that Frodo did to Berilac was "well-earned", though I'm still wondering how he came to know of it. Author Reply: The toffee apples have turned out to be a big hit. Pippinfan1988 suggested toffee apples at the fair and I am very glad that she did. Everyone, especially Merry, has enjoyed them. Pippin enjoyed his question and answer session with the judges once he got going. I think he put on quite a show and Sam got all of the credit that he'd earned. Frodo probably enjoyed his revenge. I do think he earned the right to get even this time. Berilac is probably wondering the same thing that you are right now. How did Frodo know? Thank you for all of your reviews on this story. They are much appreciated! One more chapter to go!

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/31/2005
This has been such an enjoyable story! I hope Pippin get some prize for his wheelbarrow if he doesn't win 1st prize. I was wondering what it was with Merry and all those apples, but of course - when it comes to Estella Merry just can't keep away. I had to laugh out loud at Frodo's "accident" with Berilac, lol. I bet Merry and Pippin would like to know how he knows. :D It was also very nice to see Pippin's sisters and Saradoc there. Author Reply: Anso! So glad to hear that you liked this chapter. I think you'll agree that Merry had an excellent time at this fair. He's full of apples, but he's had a great day and I suspect that Estella Bolger has made a nice profit with her apple booth. Frodo had the last laugh on Berilac this time. I let Merry do a bit of subtle tormenting with Tunnely, but I just had to let Frodo get even with Berilac. Glad you enjoyed that. I wanted Pippin and Sam to have a large audience for the competition and so I had some of the family come to the fair. I would have had more of them stop in, but it would have been hard to give everyone something to say or do without making this chapter even longer. LOL Thank you so much for reading this one and for all of your lovely reviews. You have been very encouraging and I appreciate it. I am looking forward to more of "Master In Training".

Imrahoil	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/31/2005
Auuw, nice. And a fluffy cliffhanger. Now, to the ribbons. First place for Pippin, please, come on, he deserves it, and a honourable mention for Holly at least. Frodo should buy the wardrobe to complete Pippin's cosy little room and Sam should get his wheel barrow at last. slightly menacing voice He does get it, doesn't he?! Author Reply: A fluffy cliffhanger? LOL I didn't realize it but I guess that is exactly what this was. I hope to have the next chapter up very soon with the answers to all of your questions. (Love the slightly menacing voice! Very impressive indeed.) Thank you for reviewing and I do hope you like the outcome!

pipspebble	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
Oh, that sneaky Frodo! Never underestimate a Baggins, especially when a loved one has been wronged. I love how he handled the whole Berilac affair, and I laughed out loud every time Merry went after another caramel apple! Wonderful little touch, great idea of Pippinfan's. I just love how this has all come together. I'll be sad to see it end. Author Reply: Yes, Frodo finally got his revenge for a long summer with the younger cousins. Berilac made things so much worse, but I doubt he'll do that again! LOL I just had to let Frodo get even since he had been the one to deal with Pippin's mystery-sleeping-problem and Berilac's so-called joke was rather hurtful to Frodo. Pippinfan1988 did my a big favor by asking for toffee apples. That just went perfectly with this chapter. She is great at suggesting little improvements and plot lines. Thank you so much for all of the lovely reviews that you have left for this story! It is always easier to write if you know that someone is reading and enjoying! Thank you!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
Marvelous performance by Pippin, I must say. Very, very well done indeed. And it does indeed appear that Frodo knows, and Berilac is getting his comeuppance without Merry having to beat him half to death. Wonderful! And how Pippin described Sam's teaching is wonderful! Author Reply: Pippin did a good job in his judging, didn't he? He let Sam shine in all of it and I am sure that he meant to because without Sam he would never have made it to the competition. Frodo got the last word on all of this and I think that's only fitting. He has had a very long summer with his younger cousins and part of that was due to Berilac's mischief. He got the point across and did Berilac a favor by saving him for Merry. LOL Thank you for all of your lovely reviews. It is always nice to know that someone is reading and that they are enjoying it. I am also thrilled that you wrote that wonderful story about Frodo building Sam a hobbit-size stool with a reference to this story in it. "Gifts and the Benefits of Scholarship" was so much fun to read! Thank you again!

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
Does it have to end? This has been so good. :) I love Merry enjoying the toffee apples ;) (Thank you Pippinfan), I like Holly and her project, I like Frodo saying "Oh! That was close!" I eagerly await the last chapter. :) Author Reply: I'm afraid that we are about at the end of the line on this one. If I don't end it soon it will become as long as Brandybuck and Took. LOL Pippinfan1988 really gave me a fun idea with her comment about wanting to go to the fair and get a toffee apple. Her idea fit in so well with the story and I do think that Merry enjoyed the apples. Holly was a last minute idea. I suspected that lots of hobbits learned carpentry from family rather than from tutors and I wanted someone in the contest who had done just that. I shamelessly stole one of Pippin's movie lines for Frodo and I am glad to see that you enjoyed it. It fit so perfectly that I just had to do it! Thank you for all of the reviews and all of the kind words. They are much appreciated!

Auntiemeesh	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
I always seem to be reading these chapters first thing in the morning and run out of time before I'm able to leave a comment. Good thing you posted on the weekend this time! Pippin was so cute, sticking so close to his wheelbarrow and so very happy just to have something entered in a contest. I absolutely loved Frodo knocking Berilac into the cow patty, though. That was the best moment of the chapter, with him driving the lesson home. I just hope Berilac is smart enough to realize that Frodo's comments were pointed. :) Author Reply: Oh, I think Berilac is too smart for his own good. His trick on Pippin was rather clever even if it was mean-spirited. I think he will have no trouble figuring out what Frodo's message was. LOL I also thought that it would be more effective coming from Frodo than Merry or Pippin. Pippin has enjoyed the fair even if he doesn't win. He's just been thrilled to see his wheelbarrow on display among all of the other projects especially since Tunnely had him convinced that he couldn't build anything. It has all been good for his confidence. Thank you for reveiwing this one! You've been so sweet!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
OMG! GW, this chapter is perfect! Everyone is wonderfully in character. Merry and the toffee apples was just priceless, Sam's nervousness for Pippin's sake was so sweet, and the pride showed by Frodo, Pippin's sisters and his Uncle Saradoc was lovely. I loved the way Merry was able to startle Tunnelly with the apple--he's still a bit obvious, but he's learning a few things about subtlety. Perhaps after several years he'll be almost as good as Frodo, so that no one will be quite sure if he is really exacting his revenge--brilliant, totally brilliant. I also loved the way Pippin was enthusiastic over the other children's entries--it's quite clear that he's simply proud to have made something good enough to enter, and that winning would simply be icing on the cake for him. I do hope that this year Tunnelly's entries are shut out completely. The only thing I'm sorry about is your announcement of only one chapter to go. sigh I know, I know, all things must come to an end sooner or later, but I'd be perfectly happy if this one was much later... Author Reply: So pleased that you've liked this one. I've had a great time writing it. Merry will need some practice if he is ever to be as subtle as Frodo in the revenge department. In a way, Berilac got off much easier than he might have if Merry had planned the revenge. I suspect that Berilac will be puzzling this out for a while. It might keep him from going too far in the future with his little pranks. Pippin is just so happy to be in the contest that he isn't too worried about prizes, especially since he knows that his sisters are going to make his celebration dinner either way. Mister Tunnely is basically a coward and Merry has his number. It seems there was enough revenge to go around this time. LOL Thank you so much for reviewing this story. You have been so supportive and it has really helped me along. I have mixed emotions about ending it also, but I do think it's gone about as far as it can go. Thank you again!

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/30/2005
LOL, Frodo's method of punishment was very fitting, and if anyone deserved to get back at Berilac for that story, it was Frodo. Merry and the toffee apples was classic. That lad would buy anything if Estella were selling it, lol. I loved the fair in general and Pippin's demonstration was delightful. Pippin's so proud of his project and I don't think he's concerned about it winning or not. I just wish Sam wasn't so nervous. He has a knack for carpentry, if he built that hope chest by himself; he shouldn't doubt himself so much. This has been wonderful and I'm sorry to see there's only one chapter left. This story has to be one of my favorites of yours. Author Reply: I appreciate all of your lovely reviews on this one. You've made me feel much better about my version of Sam. As you know, I was dreadfully nervous about him in this story! Your encouragement helped this one get finished. I thought that Frodo deserved to get even for everyone with Berilac. Also he is more subtle than Merry. Berilac may never to sure but he will certainly be more careful in the future. Estella has turned quite a profit on her toffee apples this year at the fair thanks to Merry. You're right about Pip. He's just thrilled to be in the contest no matter how things turn out. Sam may get a chance to relax before too long but I suspect he will be worried until he see that Pippin is all right with the outcome of the judging. Thank you again for your help and for all of the wonderful reviews!

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List