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Twice Twenty by Dreamflower	10 Review(s)
KathyG	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 1/15/2015
As you can tell, I thought Sam might have a "feeling" about Boromir, one that he could not really put into words, but that would make training with him uncomofortable. But he's observant, and I think that he probably will ask "good old Strider" for some help along the way as well. But he's not going to put himself forward, either. Oh, please, would you write a story in which Sam does just that? Surely, Sam doesn't go into a battle with orcs in Moria (and much later, with Shelob) without having had some training. As Bodkin said, simply watching doesn't make for adequate training.

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/20/2006
I love it! i am slowly making way through my endless list of fics to be read... I am so happy for once to see that Merry isn't doing as he should and instantly being on top of a situation and thus being embarrassed and needing special instructions. That almost never happen in stories. There are lots of lovely things about thi story and I especially like that they went to the Dwarves to get more knowledge on how to fight a larger foe. Thanks, dear, for this very enjoyable read! :D Author Reply: Wouldn't it be lovely if the list of new fic truly was endless? I had this idea a very long time ago, about the two younger hobbits, and their training, but it had completely slipped my mind until Imrahoil asked for Boromir-hobbit fic, and I saw "yield" as the prompt for this 20_rings story. Then I remembered the long-ago bunny. I had seen an article about SCA fighter training in the organization's quarterly magazine, "Tournaments Illuminated", and one of the things the author mentioned was the importance of proper breathing. It seemed to me that Merry might be on of those single-minded sorts who sometimes will hold their breath if they are concentrating too hard on doing something. It seemed to me that Gloin and Gimli would be able to reassure them that what they were learning was not useless, and that it was, indeed, possible to take down a much larger foe. I'm glad you liked it!

Imrahoil	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/14/2006
Oh, sorry. You have to fill in your e-mail adress for the reply function to work, stands to reason, and I don't do that most of the time. But now I have found the story - on my own, clever Imrahoil ;-) - and I have read it and I love it. Love Boromir and Merry and Gimli and Glorfindel and the family jewels and Sam's suspicion ... And it's miiine. Oops, there I go again. Author Reply: I'm so glad you loved it! And yes, it's yours! grin I'd had the bunny way in the back of my head some time ago, and had nearly forgotten it; then you asked for Ring-less Boromir with hobbits, and it began to niggle at my brain. But it wasn't until I realized that it was perfect for the "yield" prompt on 20_rings that it actually started to gel into an actual story. And it came out a good deal longer than I had originally planned. But I don't guess you mind that part, LOL!

Imrahoil	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/14/2006
Look, what's here, my story, and I missed it. It's not even a ficlet, it's a real STORY with all of them in it. Thank you so much. Now, I'm going to read MY story. And afterwards I will try to behave like an adult again. Author Reply: Yay! You found it! I had tried to let you know via the reply feature on the other story, but I wasn't sure if you ever got the notice! Yes, I had been searching my brain for the right bunny for you, and as soon as I saw the "yield" prompt, it began to come together for me!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/6/2006
Sorry for not reviewing earlier, but last week I had barely time to even read at least part of all the updates I wanted to read and review and am still busy catching up. That is so very typical of Sam, not wanting to sparr with Merry or Pippin! Of course, it wouldn’t be proper eg The sword fighting lessons were very interesting and, of course, amusing and touching. The hobbit’s understandable doubts in the beginning, Merry’s and Pippin’s eagerness ... and I can understand even more why they loved Boromir so much. In hindsight, Boromir did a wonderful job and saved with these lessons not only the two hobbits, but a lot of other people, too. He put so much effort in the teaching of these two, although – or because - he knew how much at a disadvantage they were, and worked so hard with them to overcome this disadvantage as well as possible. It is truly a pity he didn’t live to see them fight at the Pelennor and the Morannon. He would have been so very proud of them! The padded leather „armor“ is a good idea, and I suppose it doesn’t hinder them so much as real armor. And you know, the family jewels is a absolutely priceless expression! rofl Frodo chuckled. “No doubt he can.” He found it quite humorous that while Sam felt the Gondorian son of the Steward “too grand”, he still felt comfortable calling the Heir of Isildur “Strider”. Oh, I hadn’t seen is this way, but that is only too true! giggle I wonder if it had truly sunk in in Sam's brain who exactly Strider was at this time. Author Reply: Well, of course, it was not only the impropriety of it. Sam had a "feeling" about Boromir, but he wasn't sure what it was, so he used "proper" as an excuse--although I am sure he would also not have been comfortable with doing something so improper. Boromir I see as being very good at teaching swordplay. He would know just the kind of thing necessary to teach them in order to give them what advantages he could. I hope that somehow he was able to know that his teaching saved them. Glad you liked the idea of the leather "armor", and the "cups", LOL! But I just felt that if they were to learn how to fight without pulling their blows for safety's sake, they needed something of the sort. I don't think it had. He heard the stories, but he knew Strider, and I think that first impression would have colored his attitude.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/5/2006
A lovely technical win, I must say. Very believable, and wonderful characterizations of all. Author Reply: A technical win, but a win, nonetheless. I am quite sure that Merry is going to make a point of breathing properly from here on out! I'm glad you thought it believable--it always seemed to me that Merry's and Pippin's training must have begun before they set out, because pick-up fights on the trail were simply not going to be enough to impart to them the skills they eventually showed when they finally were forced to actually defend themselves.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/4/2006
Well - if anything will make Merry breathe when fighting, it'll be having lost to Pippin! He will find that very hard to take - especially if his younger cousin makes a point of gloating as much as possible. It's a shame Sam won't take part in the training - he will need the skill and it isn't really something you can learn by watching. His mind might know what to do, but his body won't. He needs to learn now, before he and Frodo end up on their own. I love the sense that takes Merry and Pippin to Gloin and Gimli to ask about the truth of fighting tall men when you are short and outreached. And it all sounds very sensible to me! Excellent chapter - really enjoyed it. Author Reply: Yes, indeed. This is going to rankle. And Pippin is not the deliberately gloating type, but of course he is a chatterer, and beating Merry is not something that often happens to him, so he will go on and on about it--harder for Merry to take than if Pippin did gloat on purpose, LOL! As you can tell, I thought Sam might have a "feeling" about Boromir, one that he could not really put into words, but that would make training with him uncomofortable. But he's observant, and I think that he probably will ask "good old Strider" for some help along the way as well. But he's not going to put himself forward, either. It just seemed to me the sort of concern that the two would have, as they began to see the reality of fighting foes twice as large or larger, than they. And it would make sense to ask people who might have such experience about the feasibility of it.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/3/2006
Very entertaining and well written! I love gap-fillers that tell something of the hobbits' time in Rivendell, whether before or after the quest. And what a wonderful description of the training! Again, you've managed to capture everyone perfectly! I really enjoyed this. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I like Rivendell gap-fillers myself! I'm glad you liked this story. Imrahoil had asked for Boromir-hobbits, and when I was searching for a bunny, and saw the prompt "yield" for this challenge, it seemed like the perfect chance to do this.

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/3/2006
Well done!! The sword fighting details all sounded fine. I do know that some SCA folk have no idea of correct swordsmanship or classical fencing, only theatrical. Others I know have studied proper form for their weapons. I'm a classical fencer and this all sounded good :) :) Yea, Pippin!! Huzzah!!! About time he won ;) Author Reply: Well, while I'm not a fighter myself, I've watched quite a few tourneys and fighter practices, and overheard quite a few bits and pieces of advice from marshalls to new fighters. That said, of course, since this is meant for Boromir teaching the hobbits how to fight to survive, he is advising them to do just the opposite of some things that SCA fighters are not allowed to do, such as striking from behind, or blows to "illegal" areas such as knees and ankles, LOL! And, yeah, I thought it would be good for Pippin to win. I see Merry as one of those extremely competitive types. This is not natural to my Pippin, who is more interested in having fun than in winning. But Merry has always pushed Pippin to try harder, because while he wants to win, he doesn't like to win "too easily"--and he thinks Pippin should be more competitive, LOL! sigh I always wanted to try fencing, but, alas I am too old and out of shape to try it now.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/3/2006
I didn't want to hear the end of this either, Dreamflower. It was so great and full of description which I love. Author Reply: Thanks! I did indulge myself with the description in this one!

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