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Distractions  by GamgeeFest 6 Review(s)
cookiefleckReviewed Chapter: 25 on 9/21/2009
Hmmm. just a dance? I haven't read ahead to the newer chapters yet but I am suspicious.

Loved the you're 50, you're 37 exchange... especially the way in which you wrote it.

Also laughed at "duller than a daily update on crop growth." Hah.

And, yeah, I liked the bit about Sam's foot. ;o)



Author Reply: That whole conversation with the Riders and hobbits was one of the last things I wrote for that chapter, and the 50/37 exchange was the last thing I added. It seemed very Merry-Frodo-ish. :D

A daily update on crop growth would be excruiating for anyone, even Sam - or Farmer Cotton! Given some of the trainings, well *most* of the trainings, I've had to attend in my work life, I can sympathize.

Sam will never know his foot got hurt because you requested a little h/c for him! :P He took it all in stride. ;)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 25 on 9/13/2009
Poor Pippin but what an example also he gives in doing one's duty even when fearful. *hugs him*

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Pippin isn't happy with his assignment, but he's grown up over the Quest and knows that he must put his fealty ahead of his own wishes.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 25 on 9/7/2009
Oh, yes--sometimes boredom would WELL be preferable! What a thing to think! Now, what kind of "sacrifice" is required, I wonder? And will Osric get a new wife from the situation?

Most intriguing!

And poor Sam, him and his missing toenails!

Author Reply: People really don't give boredom enough credit! Look at what boredom could have saved them from. ;) The "sacrifice" will be shocking but nothing permanent, if that helps.

Poor Sam's feet! Nail growth is such a slow process, but his feet will be presentable again some day. Hopefully, by the time he has to face Rosie. :D

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 25 on 9/7/2009
Ecgberht laughed. “And here we thought you hobbits were innocent, in this respect at least!”
“Who says we aren’t?” Frodo asked. “You weren’t listening.”
“You’re fifty,” Merry said, now eyeing his older cousin. It was the closest any of them had come to asking the question.
“And you’re thirty-seven,” Frodo replied. It was the closest he would ever come to answering it.


LOL!!! I like it when they speak like that. Frodo and Merry are masters in the art of saying something by NOT saying it ;-)

I hope that Pippin will be o.k. after his stay near the tombs. Poor lad!

And I wonder what that dance will be like! Barbaric costuming? A certain sacrifice? I still need more explanation!

Author Reply: They are indeed! And they always know what the other one really means! But they apparently don't know everything about each other. ;)

Pippin will come out of the Hallows shaken, but better for the experience. One of his biggest fears has just been confronted and is soon to be conquered.

The dance is just a couple of chapters away. *grins*

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 25 on 9/7/2009
“You’re fifty,” Merry said, now eyeing his older cousin. It was the closest any of them had come to asking the question.

“And you’re thirty-seven,” Frodo replied. It was the closest he would ever come to answering it.


What a marvelous writer you are. I just love the way you say things without saying them. :)

Author Reply: A gentlehobbit never tells. ;) Tolkien stays mum on the subject and so we're left to speculate if the Baggins bachelors are quite as innocent as they seem. Apparently, even their closest friends are left speculating as well!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 25 on 9/7/2009
*gigglesnerk*

I love this chapter. It's so adorable. My favorite thing about it is that no one actually *SAYS* what they are talking about, and yet right up to the end there, everyone actually KNEW-- which made the brief misunderstanding at the end even funnier.

My favorite bit of dialogue:

“Osie was about to tell us about his night with Jamila,” Wulf said.

“That’s not very polite,” Pippin said with a frown.

“Nor proper,” Sam said.

“Not proper at all,” Frodo agreed. “One shouldn’t admit to doing such things before they’re married.”

Everyone stopped at this and Sam’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. “Mr. Frodo!” he exclaimed, scandalized.

Ecgberht laughed. “And here we thought you hobbits were innocent, in this respect at least!”

“Who says we aren’t?” Frodo asked. “You weren’t listening.”

“You’re fifty,” Merry said, now eyeing his older cousin. It was the closest any of them had come to asking the question.

“And you’re thirty-seven,” Frodo replied. It was the closest he would ever come to answering it.


So very hobbity and proper. After all, a gentlehobbit doesn't kiss (or anything) and tell!

I'm worried for poor Pippin in the Hallows; but perhaps this will ultimately be good for him-- if nothing happens in his brief stay there, it might help him a little to overcome his fear. Or not-- you are perfectly capable of throwing in a twist I don't see coming!

And Sam's toenails worry me too. Should they be falling off like that? *frets*



Author Reply: This was a fun chapter to write, though I was worried that it was perhaps a little too riske. I'm glad you enjoyed the induendo! ;) For all the headaches these chapters gave me, I'm pleased that they came out so light and fun.

A gentlehobbit never tells! Now we may never know. ;)

No more twists at this point in the story. Pippin will benefit from his time in the Hallows. He won't be skipping away from there, or be overly eager to return, but he'll know he can survive the experience.

Toenail growth being the achingly slow process that it is, there's no alarm. I can imagine, with everything their poor feet endured in Mordor, that a nail or two would have fallen out. They really do just take that long to grow back. My mother had to have a toenail removed because of a fungus that infected her toe, and it took months to grow back.

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