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A Comedy of Merrys (or Much Ado About Merry)  by Lindelea 5 Review(s)
LindorienReviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/2/2004
Is Diamond's baby coming on the day of the wedding? Children are obstinate that way, you know. No blue tits in this chapter. I move on.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/18/2004
I want to stay at an Inn where they treat you this well! Also, now for some reason I am worried about the bird's eggs in Merigrin's tree. mmmmm, surely not.

PervincaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/16/2004
Aww, that was very nice of the Innkeeper's wife! I feel sorry for them now. My goodness, Beregrin, Borogrin and Merigrin. I'm half expecting Pippin's new children to be Frodogrin and Palagrin! Very cute. Please continue soon.

Author Reply: Frodogrin, now there's a thought. Actually, they are already named in another story, so we'll regretfully have to leave that idea on the shelf. Perhaps Faramir Took can use those names at a later date. Thanks for reviewing!

Lyta PadfootReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/15/2004
I'm curious about Woodruff's theory - is it something recommended to pregnant women or simply a way of bettering their nutrition. The conversation about the babies was hysterical - Surprise indeed! I once knew a lawyer with that name. Is Merigrin riding with Nell and Ferdi - I didn't see indications of it - or is he playing hokey? As for Estella, well innkeepers in the Shire are much nicer than their modern counterparts!

Author Reply: It's actually based on the diet my midwife used when I fought toxemia through my last two pregnancies. The Brewer diet, or the Brewster diet, or something like that. It had an inordinate amount of daily eggs and more protein than you can imagine... "normal" recommended daily protein for a pregnant woman is 80 grams or so, but she had me eating a minimum of 200g. Must admit that when I fell below that amount the swelling and woozies would start. I even had to get up in the middle of the night to drink a protein drink, to keep from feeling awful in the morning.

A lawyer named Surprise? Just think of the possibilities.

Hobbit innkeepers, as a rule, are better, I think.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/15/2004
I didn't notice Merry Took in the coach with Ferdi...he wouldn't have missed his ride, now, would he? Off checking on his nest for the last time and not noticing the time? He's got his head in the clouds in a way that reminds me a bit of his father, when he was young. I love Nell's descriptions of the night for Ferdi. They've adapted to his disability, and now it's a chance for poetry between them. Pip's very tender with Diamond here. Tender for Pip though, includes laughter. "Prize" and "Surprise" indeed! (Though I know a few babies who could be named so...)

No sign of Merry Brandybuck at the inn. Of course, we know why - he's still asleep by the stream (or hurrying now well behind schedule). The innkeeper's wife is truly hobbity here - clever, resourceful, accomodating, and generous. All that's good about the hobbits. But, I'm not so sure that bolting the inn door is a good idea, even after the trauma of Ruffians. What would happen if there was a fire? (This isn't a criticism of the story, just something I don't think the hobbits have thought of. You're not planning to write another fire, are you?)

Author Reply: No fires in the future, save those resulting from the earthquake in the other story, and don't plan to go into detail on those, either... Thanks for the clarification in the last line of your review; I so often take casual comments for constructive criticism when they are merely observations on the reader's part.

Cannot answer your other questions/comments here but you shall see the answers in chapter(s) to be posted soon.

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