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Dreamflower's Mathoms I by Dreamflower	9 Review(s)
Frodo Baggins	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 3/9/2006
Oh how funny that both were keeping the same secret. This was a truly sweet story that was very sad. It gave a look into Frodo's life and that of Merry and Pippin. I love the way you write, so please continue to do so! Namarie, mellon nin! God Bless, Frodo Baggins Author Reply: Yes, in my story "A Conspiracy of Hobbits", Pippin discovers the truth, and that Merry is planning to keep it from him in order to keep him safe. He waits until just a day or two before they leave Bag End to let Merry know he's already in on the secret. (In other words, he does the same thing to Merry that Merry and he do to Frodo.)

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/20/2006
Poor, dear hobbits! All four of them! I can imagine what a nightmare it must be for Merry to know what Pippin will go through when he and Frodo leaves the Shire since he's been through it himself, only that this time Pippin will lose them both. That is, of course he won't but Merry thinks so because he needs to protect Pippin and he'd do anything for him to be safe. I also love that Sam doesn't always do what the Gaffer says is proper and takes pity in Pip and let him help out. And of course, Pippin is well awere of what is going on, he's brighter than many give him credit for and he is just as determined to see it through as the rest of them. Those blessed hobbits! You made me all emotional now, with your stories, lol. Author Reply: Well, of course this whole scenario takes place during my "Conspiracy of Hobbits" story, and that was the whole plot of course, that all of them were trying to protect one another by keeping secrets from one another--not something that ever works out as planned. Sam knows when something needs to take a backseat to "propriety". And, as if he needed any excuse (as to the Gaffer), well, it was what Mr. Merry had told Mr. Pippin to do,after all. Pippin is very bright, though his take on things is sometimes a bit skewed. He may be foolish from time to time, but he is never stupid--unlike the way some ficwriters portray him. Here, hands you a virtual hanky is that better, dear?

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/13/2006
Oh, Dreamflower! This is just wonderful! Thank you so much for writing my bunny!! It's just what I wanted! Leave it to Merry to handle the situation with the S-B's; always ready to protect his Frodo. I really liked Pippin's reaction. It must have really shaken him to see Frodo like that since Frodo has always been his stalwart, reliable cousin. And it is just like Sam to be able to tell that Pippin was dazed and confused. "“Is Frodo going to be all right?” Tears sprang to the green eyes. “I’ve never seen a look like that on Frodo’s face before. It was like his whole world had ended.” “I think it has, Pip,” said Merry softly. “I’ve seen that look on his face before, though not for a long time..."" This is just perfect! It's just what I had imagined! I love how Pippin turns to Merry for reassurance that Frodo will be all right. And Merry's explanation - "a black melancholy" is just the perfect description for the mood Frodo gets into. Merry's memory really shows just how much the death of his parents effected Frodo. The entire conversation between Merry and Pippin was fantastic and extremely poignant. This was so lovely! Thank you so much!!! Author Reply: Yes, of course Merry would handle the S.-B.s. I had a good deal of fun with that in the original fic--but his determination to protect Frodo was quite serious. You are quite right about Pip's reaction. He had never seen Frodo in a state such as this; he never knew Frodo when springtime in Buckland was an ordeal, when the melancholy was so deep that Frodo thought he could never climb out. By the time Pippin was old enough to really get to know Frodo, his older cousin had been for some years happy and content under Bilbo's roof. And though he had heard enough from Merry, and perhaps encountered a fleeting glimpse of Frodo's grief from time to time, it was nothing to what Merry had often fought on Frodo's behalf from infancy. It had to throw him completely to realize how bleak the despair could be for his seemingly invulnerable Frodo. Pippin recognizes that Merry is the expert on Frodo, just as Pippin is the expert on Merry. I try to always use the old-fashioned term "melancholy" rather than the modern term "depression", and feel in some ways that it is more descriptive. I'm so glad that this "little bunny" lived up to your expectations!

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/13/2006
Now that really is a change of pace from the last tale Dreamflower! Frodo's emotions are positively scary! But I enjoyed(?) the way that Merry and Pippin are each trying to protect the others' feelings. Author Reply: Yes, when Frodo got into one of those moods, it was scary, especially for Merry. Merry had always been sensitive to Frodo's feelings, but I don't believe that he realized until he grew up just how dangerous his cousin's occasional bouts of depression were. At this point in time, poor Merry and Pippin are trying so hard not to let their respective secrets slip, and since they have never kept secrets from one another before, it's very painful for them.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/12/2006
Very poignant. This really brings home how terribly hard those last weeks in the Shire had to be for all of them. And I like how you tie this to "And Neither Have I Wings to Fly." I read that one over at www.writers-haven.net/hobbity_love. That one was a tear-jerker. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Thank you! I shall have to check out some of the other stories there! I remember the archivist emailing me for permission to place the story, yet I did not realize it was already accomplished! How wonderful! This whole time period, I think, was incredibly stressful and painful for the four of them. None of them are by nature "secret keepers", and being unable to confide in one another their hopes and fears must have been wrenching. "Neither Have I Wings to Fly" rather wrote itself--ever since the first time I heard it "The Water is Wide" reminded me of the Grey Havens. And so much has been written of Sam's reactions, but Merry's voice just came to me for that one.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/12/2006
Interesting view on Merry thinking he's hiding his conspiracy from Pippin who has his own conspiracy of one. Author Reply: Yes, that idea was the entire premise behind my story "A Conspiracy of Hobbits"--that Merry would have wanted to protect Pippin from danger, and would have tried to keep him out of the plan. But Pippin found out, and kept his knowledge from Merry until shortly before they left, so that Merry would not have time to figure out a way to stop him from going.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/12/2006
Poor Frodo being pestered by those dreadful S-B's, and poor Merry and Pippin keeping secrets from Frodo and each other. It must have been a very difficult time for all of them, and you've captured it perfectly. Author Reply: Yes, that was probably the worst time of their lives up until the Quest--keeping secrets from one another was just not something that worked well for them, and all it did was make them miserable.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/12/2006
Everybody keeping secrets from everybody else. Must have been torture for most of them! And the Sackville-Bagginses making nuisances of themselves. Typical. Author Reply: Oh, it was, very much so! It was the one time of their lives that the cousins' connection was not working well--for that was based on total trust and honesty with one another, and keeping secrets disrupted that, and made all of them miserable. And, as you say, typical S.-B. behavior--rude and pushy and thoughtless and cruel!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 95 on 2/12/2006
Poor Frodo, these experiences must have been the two worst days of his life so far. And I have to admit, I had always wondered why on earth he sold Bag End to the S.-B.’s of all people! I’m sure he could have found someone who was not so nasty and deserved this wonderful hobbit hole much more than Lobelia and Lotho. Anyway, this is an awkward situation for the cousins. Both holding secrets from each other, both are worried about Frodo, both are worried how the other and Frodo will react when they get to know the whole truth ... Author Reply: Well, the reason I puzzled out was three-fold. Part of it had to do with Frodo's "cover story" of having no more money--if that were true, then it would have been illogical for him to turn down a standing offer of cash; part of it had to do with time--he didn't have much, and it was far quicker to take Lotho's standing offer. But the third reason was a bit different. I think that Frodo was "burning his bridges" in the Shire. He knew that if he sold Bag End to the S.-B.'s, that he could not bear to stay around and watch, so he could not then back out of leaving the Shire--it was a way of helping himself overcome his reluctance to leave after the decision had been made. And yes,this whole time period was very awkward for all three cousins, trying so hard to keep secrets from one another that each one failed to see the evidence of secrets on the part of the others. This had to be a horrid time for all of them.

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