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The Road to Edoras by Dreamflower	8 Review(s)
GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
Poor Frodo, not knowing how to ride. He would have enjoyed the admiration of his cousin and want to keep that, as well as not disillusion Merry about his own limitations. Sara came up with a clever solution. Legolas and his sack of potatoes joke - lol. I love the sense of humor you have given Legolas. Author Reply: This is another little idea I'd had for a while--that for Frodo, riding lessons had somehow slipped between the cracks when he lost his parents, and that he felt embarassed when little Merry asks him to teach him. I had thought of doing a story by itself, but I thought that it would make a good anecdote for this chapter, since learning to ride would be a common experience among these differing folk. Merry's admiration was very important to Frodo at that point in his young life--like sunlight to a plant that has been trying to grow in the dark. Saradoc understood that, and, like most Brandybucks, was very clever. I think Legolas must have had a very dry sense of humor. In the books he and Gimli seem to enjoy their banter.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
Awwww! Loved that wee story of Frodo learning to ride a pony. :-) No matter how many times I see it in a tale, I am still amused at reading how the hobbits are all business at meals; very little talking until things start to taper off. In the future, I think I am going to have a snack ready at hand when I read about your hobbits eating supper because you describe the details of fried mushroom, garlic, onion, and potatoes a little TOO well, lol. Thanks for another very enjoyable chapter. :-) Pippinfan Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed that little anecdote--it seemed to fit right in here. Well, for my hobbits, it's just hobbit ettiquette. Any conversation during the first part of the meal is supposed to be about the meal. This gradually gives way to talk of other food and meals, and not until they get close to the end do they begin to speak of other things. And I do like to describe the details of what they eat--it seems more hobbity somehow!

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
Legolas chuckled. “And you do not ‘ride’ now, Master Dwarf,” he teased. “you bump along behind me like a sack of potatoes.” giggle I just love Legolas/Gimli banter! Another wonderful chapter, Dreamflower! Lovely hobbity discussion about food and how funny to see the hobbits concern that they have given the Men enough, when actually they eat far more than Men! The story about Frodo learning to ride was so sweet - how like Frodo not to want to appear lacking in his Merry's eyes. And how kind and thoughtful of Saradoc to find such an ingenious solution! Author Reply: So do I. It just seems so natural for them to tease one another. I think the hobbits worry about the Men--they are so much larger, yet they eat so much less, that it doesn't seem right to them. The way Merry always looked up to him was very important to Frodo. It was the constant approval and affirmation he needed, and he rather basked in Merry's adoration. Saradoc would know how important that relationship was to both his lads. I'm glad you thought his solution ingenious!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
You can't get away from cuisine when dealing with hobbits. I'm glad the thyme introduced a certain je ne sais quoi to the soup - and that the toasted sandwiches were delicious. Hearing about the adventurers ... adventures casually in conversation is so much more impressive, too, than having someone sit you down and instruct you in what they did. Really makes them seem different from the hobbits you know at home. And I love the pony story! Frodo would learn to ride so that he could continue to be amazing in Merry's admiring eyes. Saradoc's scheme is really clever - Frodo would never back down in front of Merry, either, so he can't get disheartened or give up. I like the different exposure of the different races to horses - with even Gimli agreeing now to ride - when he has to! Looking forward to more! Author Reply: I think anything hobbits cooked would have a certain "je ne sais quoi", LOL! Yes, I think that this is what is striking the hobbits of the embassy so much--that everywhere they go, they hear of the deeds of the Travellers, and hear the reverence with which they are spoken--and they see how it has affected the everyday lives of these people. You are absolutely right! It's the one thing that would really give him motivation. I thought the anecdote would lead into talk of learning to ride--a universal experience for this group, and another way for them to learn from one another about the differences and similarities between their various peoples.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
Long awaited and very welcome Dreamflower. Love the hobbit snack stop and the riding story. Author Reply: Thanks! It has taken me awhile to update--I have so many other stories clamoring for attention right now. "Hobbit snack stop." LOL! I love that phrase!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
Loved finding a new chapter here of this one. Frodo's riding lesson was so well handled and I love that he wanted to keep Merry's image of him in tact and that he and Saradoc went to such efforts. Also enjoyed the banter between Legolas and Gimli and the reaction of the others to the amout of food that the hobbits were able to eat. Author Reply: Keeping Merry's image intact was very important to Frodo, and Saradoc would understand that, and do all he could to help. I always love Legolas-Gimli banter; there's such affection behind the teasing. Hobbit appetites are one of the wonders of Middle-earth, LOL!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
“I do hope we gave you enough!” “Oh yes, Master Bolger! Indeed, I am not certain I can eat all of it. It must be a very odd experience for men to have their first glimpse of what hobbits can eat every day in comparison to the men grin Ah, I enjoyed Beri's story. So it was more or less Merry who forced Frodo to learn riding? It was so sweet and touching Frodo was so worried to disappoint his little Merry that he wanted to learn it himself to be able to teach Merry! I am glad Saradoc helped him so discreet with the problem! Oh, and I agree with little Merry about english pronouncation! It is very odd sometimes. I can read English quite well, and write it at least understandable, but to speak it ... hides face Author Reply: LOL! I would imagine so--a Man who tried to keep up with a hobbit at table would soon founder I think. Yes, as Beri said, Merry taught Frodo in a "roundabout way". Frodo would never want to disappoint his little Merry, who was the sunshine of his life. I think Saradoc understood that. giggle English is a very strange language. Merry thinks it's bad having "two" and "to"--wait until he also has "too"! And then when he learns "won" as well as "one", LOL!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 1/17/2006
Ah--how lovely a story of how Frodo learned to ride. I had Bilbo insisting Frodo take lessons once he was properly adopted as heir, myself; but this is satisfying. Author Reply: My idea was that somehow, Frodo's learning to ride got overlooked after he lost his parents. I knew why Drogo did not teach him, but I only recently figured out why Primula did not. And in the confusion and difficulties surrounding Frodo after their deaths, riding was simply not a priority. Of course, if Frodo had not learned by the time he went to Bag End, I am quite certain Bilbo would have seen to his lessons, naturally.

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