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| When the King Comes Back ( Brandy Hall ) by Dreamflower | 2 Review(s) |
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| Gryffinjack | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 12/26/2005 |
| I'm so glad that Paladin and Saradoc have made up. Those two families really should not have any ill feelings between them. "As they approached, they saw a tall figure sitting on the gate. Much as he had done when he was a small lad, Pippin jumped down and ran to meet them, putting on an imitation of his childhood self by leaping up and down and shouting “Merry! Merry! Merry! Frodo! Frodo! Frodo!” “Pip, you goose, you’re the largest seven year old I’ve ever seen!” laughed Merry, as he slid down from Stybba to enfold his cousin in a hug." How very Pippin to try to cheer Merry up and make him laugh, knowing inside himself how much Merry needs it right now. This is one instance where Pippin did not make a fool of himself because he is a Took, but did it for his love of his cousin. It's so strange to read of a "tall figure sitting on a gate" when referring to a Hobbit! Yet, that is precisely what Merry and Pippin are to the rest of the Hobbits. "“Frodo, I need to talk to you.” His face was quite serious. “What is it, Pippin?” “Let’s get away from prying ears.” He tugged at Frodo’s sleeve and drew him over toward one of the Smials side entrances, where the door formed a small alcove. “All right, we’re alone now, Pip. What is it?” “Frodo, is Merry having nightmares again?” “Yes, he is. Are you?” “No. I was having the one about Denethor, but it stopped when I got things settled with Father. But two nights in a row, I woke up thinking Merry needed me. I couldn’t think what else it could be. Which one is it? Is it the one about--me?” “Yes.” Frodo did not question Pippin’s knowledge. Merry and Pippin knew these things about one another, as anyone close to them was aware. “Pip, his parents saw, and Berilac.” “Oh, no! poor Merry. He’ll hate that.” Pippin shook his head sadly." Yep, Pippin's all grown up now. Not at all the silly goose he pretended to be on the gate. When there's something serious about, he gets right to the point but now has enough sense to be careful as to who might be around to hear. I have a feeling that Pippin knew very well that Merry's nightmare had been the one about him. The bond between them is that strong. And, of course, once Frodo told him that they knew, Pippin would understand how upsetting it would be for Merry for his parents to know of the night terrors. Thank goodness they have arrived at the Great Smials - maybe now that Merry has seen Pippin, he will not have any nightmares. Merry and Pippin really do need each other. Here's one: "The travelers were eager to get on their way to Tookland, and prepared to leave right after first breakfast." And another: "Saradoc’s grin and gesture included all three of the returned travelers." Author Reply: No, they really should not, LOL! And now they know it--well, now Paladin knows it, though the rest have known all along. Pippin's going to cheer up Merry and Frodo as well--and it's a chance for him to also work off some of the nervous energy he's probably built up by waiting on them most of the day! I am sure it brought a smile to all of them to remember how little Pippin used to greet them so exuberantly! Yes, Pippin and Merry are indeed, "tall figures", comparatively speaking. Though I'm sure that is one thing they had trouble adjusting to. They'd not been "tall" for nearly a year, spent among Men and Elves and even Dwarves. Pippin does indeed know now when to set aside light-heartedness and be solemn. He's been worried about Merry for a couple of nights, and he's not going to wait any longer than he has to, to have his fears confirmed. Of course he knew, but he would want to hear Frodo say so. They do indeed need one another, now more than ever. Author Reply: "Travellers" all fixed now, thanks! | |
| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/25/2004 |
| Pippin shook his head sadly. It had been inevitable that those in the Fellowship would know about the Hobbits’ night terrors, but outsiders just could not understand. - Dreamflower With this paragraph and other similar to it sprinkled throughout the story, I can't help but have an image of war veterans coming home after a war (doesn't matter which one). Was it your intention to hint to this? I have long believed that the hobbits had nightterrors after the horrors they experience in the War, and I love the element of how close these four have become in the process of trying to pick up the pieces. Pippinfan Author Reply: Yes, that was part of what was in my mind. The idea was put into my head by a very interesting discussion thread on rec.arts.books.tolkien about how Frodo suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The other thing is that I think it would have been much *worse* for the hobbits than for other members of the Fellowship, because hobbits' minds are not meant to work that way. Hobbits are meant to think of the simple things in life, and not *have* to experience such things, and I think that this goes deeper than just culturally, I think it is an integral part of their make-up. Certainly, they are "very tough in the fibre", but I think that emotionally it would be harder for them to come back than physically. I'm glad the closeness I wanted to show came through. These four have become a family to themselves over the course of their adventure, I think. | |