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Dreamflower's Mathoms I by Dreamflower	8 Review(s)
GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 8/10/2006
LOL. Oh poor Frodo - faced with the horror of having Pippin visit for a month - alone. I'm impressed he didn't panic. There's so much to love about this story: Pippin's admission that he wanted Frodo to marry Pearl, Frodo's silent praise to Merry for forbidding Pippin to attempt to matchmake (now that would have been hilarious, adorable, and absurd all at once, perhaps Pippin can play matchmaker for someone else), Marigold's and Sam's reactions to Pippin's unannounced arrival, and the bracelet itself and the story behind it. Absolutely delightful story! Author Reply: Yes, as delighted as he would be to see his young cousin, he'd want to be prepared--and he'd want Pippin to have parental permission for a visit that long! I could just imagine Pippin, in his first flush of enthusiasm, when the idea occured to him, running to Merry with it. After all, Merry's so clever, and full of plans--surely he could figure out some way to get Pearl and Frodo together! And Merry, completely appalled to hear of Pippin planning to inflict his matchmaking on poor Frodo, having to dash Pippin's hopes! I'm sure his first reaction was to elicit a promise from Pippin to never try such a thing! LOL! I have a feeling that Pippin's arrival at Bag End always provided the Gamgees with entertainment and amusement! I'm so glad you liked this--it's fun to get reviews for earlier stories!

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 4/25/2006
Pippin as a matchmaker, now there's an amusing picture! LOL! You know, why is it always Frodo and Pearl? Not that there's a thing wrong with it, just what is it about them? I can see young Pippin running away from the wedding preparations, and of course he'd have a more thoughtful reason than just to get away. Frodo handled everything extraordinarily well! This is such a lovely story! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Yes, I thought it would be funny, grin. And the idea of Frodo and Pearl that was so common made me think about what if it wasn't Pearl and Frodo, as was so clearly expected. There is one main reason: Pearl is the only female on the family tree who is that close to Frodo in age--she's only 7 years younger than he. The rest of them are closer to Merry's and Pippin's ages, although I do have Ponto attempt to set Angelica up with Frodo at one point. But she is the next closest in age, and that gap is 13 years! That's why it's usually either Pearl or an OC when Frodo has a romance in fics. Pippin is in the middle of his tweens at this point, and at that stage where even the sweetest and most thoughtful of adolescents tend to think that they are the center of it all. Pippin was only thinking of how lovely it would be to have Frodo as his "brother", and not how Frodo and Pearl actually felt about the matter, LOL!

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 12/7/2005
Frodo is a great problems-solver for Pippin, isn't he? I was wondering what gerat thing it was that had Pippin running off to Frodo.I like the idea of the jewlery. That is a very special gift and it would indeed be right if it came from Pippin. :D Author Reply: I'm afraid Frodo really did have to be a problem-solver for Pippin when Pip became a tween. The lad really was a bit unpredictable, and he would at least listen to Frodo, when he wouldn't listen to his parents. I had the idea of that little gift in the back of my head for a while. This just gave me a good place to put it!

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 12/7/2005
Oh, I've been wanting to read about one of the times that Pippin left home and went off to Frodo or Merry, and now you've written it! "Frodo’s eyes fell on the large pile of luggage on his front step. “Pippin? Do your parents know you’ve come?” Frodo had a sinking feeling. “I left a note.” Pippin said tersely." Such a lovably moody tweenager is our Pip! Having read some of Pippin's notes, I'm sure there will be no problem in pretending that the reason he went to Bag End was to select a wedding gift from the mathom rooms. Not exactly a fountain of information in his notes, is he? Tersely - such a wonderfully descriptive word. I got exhausted just reading Pippin's non-stop explanation of how he came to Bag End to escape all of the wedding preparations. If I had been Frodo, I would have been bleary eyed trying to keep up. I really liked how Sam was amused by the whole situation. I could see him chuckling to himself on the inside even as he felt sorry for poor Mr. Frodo. But I don't quite understand why Frodo thinks it's so awful to have Pippin for an extended visit. I understand why he would be concerned because of Pippin's parents and because of all of the wedding preparations, but from all of your stories that I've read, it seemed that all three cousins were thrilled whenever one of the other two were able to visit them and were disappointed if it were a short trip. Pippin's visited Frodo alone at Bag End before; why does Frodo need Merry there? "Pippin looked serious for a moment, and was rather quiet, before he said, “No, I would say there are a lot of things more important than being comfortable--like your friends and family--but if you are not comfortable, then comfort seems very important indeed.”" As usual, Pippin comes out with some very perceptive thoughts on those occasions when he is serious and thinks about something. It's quite true what he said! Frodo would understand completely. So Merry lets Pippin smoke, eh? tsk, tsk, tsk. How sweet of Pippin to want Frodo as a brother! I can see how the idea of Frodo marrying his sister would be enticing, although it seems that our Pippin is more interested in Frodo than in his own sister! lol! No, actually, he's more interested in what he wants than either of them, being a typical tweenager being more concerned with his own wants and desires than those around him. At least he didn't try to be a mathcmaker! What a lovely gift for Pippin to give to Pearl! I have to disagree with Frodo and agree with Pippin, though. It would be a better gift for Frodo to give to Pearl than Pippin, seeped as it is with the story of Frodo's mother and the aunt whom Pearl was named after. I'd love to read a story about Primula, Peridot, Primrose, and Pearl. In their brief appearances in your stories, I've grown rather fond of Peridot and Primrose. Frodo really would be a wonderful older brother for Pippin. He has a way of getting Pippin to see and understand things without getting upset with him. Probably because of the similarities between the two of them and in the way they think about things, although Frodo has the wisdom that comes out of experience, including sad ones. I really enjoyed this story! Author Reply: Well, I've been wanting to tell one for a while, and Marigold's starter rather sparked something for me. Pippin does tend to chatter relentlessly when he's overexcited, whether good or bad! This is a good year before "Life of a Bard". Pippin's visited Bag End on his own before, true, but not usually for more than a few days to a week. When he comes in the Spring he may stay a month or more, but Merry is usually there for most of the visit, which makes a difference. Frodo can see how wound up Pippin is, which would make riding herd on him difficult--he's going to be rather exhausting--as you pointed out. Plus this visit was completely unplanned for, and might disrupt plans of Frodo's own. Also, of course there was the complication of Pippin not having prior permission. Even later (in "Conspiracy" for example) not getting permission to extend his time away from home led to his getting in trouble, and Frodo knows how Paladin and Tina would react if Pippin didn't come home before the wedding. Yes, that's our insightful little Took--and of course, it's how he feels, and part of what led him to go along on the Quest--comfort or no. Merry may have let him have a puff or two or more, LOL! You know just how much resistance Merry has to those big green eyes! You are right, of course. He really was thinking only of how lovely it would be to have Frodo even more "in the family", so to speak, and not at all of Frodo's or Pearl's actual feelings in the matter. And as to his not matchmaking, fortunately Merry put the kibosh on that. I just imagined him, when the idea first occured to him, going to Merry for help in making it happen, and Merry's horrified response to the idea of subjecting Frodo to Pippin's likely unorthodox matchmaking attempts. So, of course, he extracted a promise from him not to meddle. But that didn't make Pippin give up hope, obviously, LOL! It's possible that the gift would mean as much or more from Frodo, but Pippin will, I know, relay the history behind it as well. And Frodo wanted Pippin to have something very special to take back to the Great Smials. I am quite sure that Pippin showing his parents that particular gift would melt their hearts(and any lingering suspicions they might have had about his motives in leaving). And to Frodo, it matters only that Pearl should have the gift. That is his own generosity. Of course, as Frodo said, he couldn't love Pippin any more if he were his brother. Pippin's still young enough to put a lot of stock in words--he thinks having "brother-in-law" attached to Frodo's name would make a difference. For all practical purposes, both Merry and Frodo are already his brothers, because they are certainly his brothers of the heart.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 12/7/2005
Oh yes, mothers planning weddings! My sympathies are with Pippin! There is something about the announcement of a marriage which turns most female brains to mush. I also loved Frodo's dismay at the thought of entertaining Pippin for a whole month. LOL! How sweet that Pip wanted Frodo as a brother-in-law. But he realised that he was being unfair to Pearl and the gift will be much appreciated. Bless Frodo for his generosity. Giggled at him pointing out to Pip that Paladin and Eglantine will be much more forgiving if they think Pip has merely gone to Hobbiton to collect the present. Sneaky Frodo! Glad to see the pipes making an appearance! Author Reply: Yes, even sensible females like Eglantine can get a bit carried away with wedding plans! Frodo knows Pippin seems to be a bundle of nerves over all this, and without Merry to help keep him in line, he can see what an exhausting task keeping him in line would be. Not to mention having to endure Paladin's and Tina's wrath if Pippin didn't come back to "face the music" so to speak, LOL! It was hard for Pippin to let go of a long-cherished daydream, I think. But of course, Frodo had to point out to him that this is all it was, and that the word "brother-in-law" in front of his name would not make him love Pippin any more than he already did. Yes, well, they may suspect Frodo's diplomatic hand in it, but if it gets Pippin back where he belongs, I don't much imagine they will call him on it, LOL! Well, of course they had to--thanks to Marigold! But I am quite sure Pearl would have asked her brother to play at her wedding!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 12/6/2005
Nice little surprise for poor Frodo to find his cousin at his door, without leave and determined to stay so long! First I didn’t know what to say – on the one hand, I could understand Pippin wanted to escape the wedding preparations, but on the other hand it was not very responsible to run away. But after his explanation about his dreams of Pearl and Frodo as a couple I was touched. No wonder he had some difficulties to accept another as Pearl’s husband! Frodo found a great way to solve the problem. It gave Pippin a way to go back with a much better explanation for his journey to Hobbiton than the truth. And it was generous to give him the bracelet for his sister. Author Reply: Yes, poor Frodo had no idea that Pippin had such a fantasy! It wasn't hard for Frodo to figure that Pippin was reluctant to see his sister married, but he was very taken aback to find out why! That's Frodo--ever the diplomat! And of course, he is the soul of generosity--as long as Pearl got the gift, he did not much mind who got the credit.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 12/6/2005
Sweet, and rather sad as well, of course. Poor Frodo, having some of his own memories stirred that day. Lovely gift. Author Reply: Yes, indeed, sweet and sad. I've had that little gift in the back of my brain for long time. I wish that my bunny for a Primula-Pearl-Primrose-Peridot story would shake lose more than a few little tantalizing snippets...

Hobbitloaf	Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 12/5/2005
Fantastic story! Ever since I read "Life of a Bard", I've loved the thought of Pippin showing up on Frodo or Merry's door unexpectedly and always hoped you would write more about it. And I must say, this was a lovely way to satisfy that desire! Dear old Pip! His thoughts about Pearl and Frodo were sidesplitting! And yet, the emotinal value really comes through and hits me hard (probably harder than is called for, I love cousin fics. ^_^) Author Reply: And ever since I wrote "Life of a Bard" I've wanted to tell of one of those occasions--this is the result. I could easily see how once a bit of overheard gossip planted the idea in Pippin's head (and he would have only been about eighteen, or around tennish in human years) it would firmly take root there. I could just see the little wheels turning: "Wow! Frodo could be my brother for real!" Of course, he'd confide in Merry, perhaps hoping for some ideas on how to make it happen, only to horrify his Brandybuck cousin, who would know, none better, how Frodo would react to matchmaking! Yet I'm quite sure that the idea remained firmly in the back of his head, along with the fond hope that it would still happen on it's own. I, too, love cousin-fic, as I am quite sure you know by now, LOL!

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