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| Merry's Graduation by PIppinfan1988 | 6 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/17/2006 |
| Yes, indeed--a formidable team indeed! Glad they are working together! Heh! And they're getting around Ferumbras in spite of himself, are they? Good! | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/15/2006 |
| *applause* Bravo!! I'm so glad that Pippin told his papa about what Ferumbras did to Degger at the exam. So wonderful that Merry gets to teach Degger :) :) Well done!! Bravo!! Author Reply: Yes, it is! And I want to expound upon Merry tutoring Degger in the next tale. Poor Merry didn't get to try out his skills yet. LOL, yep--Ferumbras better run. Thank you very much! And thank you so much for stopping by to read! :-) Pippinfan | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/15/2006 |
| Degger is a generous lad - but it's not surprising that he's feeling low. After all he's just had a professional kicking at his self-esteem. I'm glad Paladin has let him know that he values Degger and won't give up on him, no matter what. Merry will make a good tutor - and it will be good for him to take responsibility as well. Any story you want to write with Ferumbras getting his comeuppance would be welcome! Mud. Falling in streams. Broken limbs. Getting himself in some sticky situation where only the kind-heartedness of some despised servant will help him survive. For if ever a hobbit deserved a bit of torment, he's the one! Author Reply: ROTFL!! Oh, yes, my precioussss, paybackses are a...well, they're difficult! We're not vindictive...are we, my love?? (gollum! gollum!) Yes, Merry will definitely make a *great* tutor, and I promise to address that in the next tale. We have yet to see him shine. :-) My pen name may be "pippinfan", but I am a "merryfan", too! Degger is very generous--a usually happy-go-lucky, good-natured teen. He's been through an emotional wringer; having survived the deaths of his father and brother six years ago, so he doesn't allow some of the trash that Ferumbras deals out, or cruel remarks made by callous peers, bother him too bad. It still hurts, mind you, but instead of dwelling on it, he'd rather surround himself with those who do care about him, or else tend to his plants in his bit of garden. That is where he finds his joy. Although his contact with Degger was limited while he lived in Whitwell, my Paladin has proclaimed himself Degger's guardian because...well, we most likely will read why in the next tale. ;-) Thank you so much for stopping by to read! Pippinfan p.s. My swiss cheese memory just remembered that you reviewed ch. 10, too... | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/15/2006 |
| Simply wonderful. I loved the way Paladin helped Degger to get through the news that he hadn't passed by encouraging him to continue. Loved Merry's speach too! Also I was relieved that the Thain didn't get to grade the test papers. If he had then it would have been very difficult to know if Degger had actually failed or if he had been cheated out of his passing grade. This was, as are all of your stories, simply splendid! Author Reply: Thank you! I just thought it would have been so easy for the lad to quit; to just lay it all down and walk away. No one could have blamed him after he endured so much ridicule from Ferumbras and a few of his kitchen peers. He has yet to run into the likes of Saffron, Ferdibrand's younger sister; my equivalent to Lobelia S.B., but around Pervinca's age. I rather enjoyed writing Merry's speech, so I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you again for all your encouragement. :-) Pippinfan | |
| Garnet Took | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/14/2006 |
| Oh, what a nice ending. I had hoped Degger would pass the test despite Ferumbras, but that would really have been unlikely. I'm glad Pippin told Paladin what happened and that Paladin is still determined to help Degger improve his lot in life. I liked the name the tutor chose for her school. It reminded me of some of the names my homeschool friends use for their kids' diplomas. Merry's speech was great, and the audiance reactions were wonderful. Degger will certainly succeed with Merry as his assistant tutor and Pippin for a supportive fellow-student. Can't wait to see what you have planned for this entrepid bunch. GT. Author Reply: "Oh, what a nice ending. I had hoped Degger would pass the test despite Ferumbras, but that would really have been unlikely. LOL, we must all be on the same wavelength; Dreamflower said the same thing about Degger not passing. I confess, I do try to watch for plausibility. I've been in Degger's shoes...lol, or fur...whatever, but I've been there, and its not fun. I imagine now that Paladin is living under the same roof as Degger, he is going to take more of an active role in being Degger's guardian. Degger needs a lot of encouragement as far as academics go; things don't come as easily to him as they do for Pippin or Merry. That was the principle part of the story with Merry; he grows up a bit in the way of noticing that aspect of Degger, and instead of becoming impatient with the lad (as some high IQ people usually do), Merry wants to help and encourage him along the rough road ahead. LOL, glad you liked "Hemlock Academy"! As for the crowd, I imagined Bilbo's birthday party and the reactions of the hobbits under the big pavilion, then tried to reproduce a bit of it here. I thought it gave a nice touch. I agree with your assessment of Merry being Degger's tutor and Pippin his suppportive study-mate, and I can't wait to start writing about it, because, yes, I do have plans. :-) Thanks for reading! Pippinfan | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/14/2006 |
| Well, I'm sorry Degger didn't at least squeak by on the exam, but really, it is more realistic this way. And I loved Paladin's explanations to him. Merry's little graduation ceremony was very sweet--and I think he is going to immensely enjoy his time as a tutor. Author Reply: I was sorry, too. I knew from the moment I had Paladin pull Degger into the study group in "The Substitute" that the lad was going to struggle, but the storyline didn't allow me to venture into it at the time. As for Paladin, I felt the need to establish his guardian relationship. It was all right that Paladin wasn't *always* there for Degger the past six years because the lad chose to live at Great Smials while Paladin lived in Whitwell. But now that they both live at G.S., it was important for Paladin to take up what he felt was his responsibility from the first. LOL, I had a great time writing that scene! Bits of Bilbo's farewell birthday party floated into my muse which inspired Pippin and Everard's responses and the crowd's reactions. I think Merry will enjoy it as well, although he knows what his true calling is. This is just one of the many indulgences my Saradoc will give his son before Merry finally buckles down and takes his place as the heir to Buckland. Thank you for reading! Pipinfan | |