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A Conspiracy of Hobbits  by Dreamflower 1 Review(s)
GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/10/2005
What a lovely ending! Well, ending to the ending before the epilogue and such.

"Frodo was trying to think how he was going to tell Merry, Pippin and Fatty that he was leaving. He owed them more of an explanation than “Sorry for all the trouble you went to for me, lads, but it’s all for nothing. I’m leaving in the morning and likely I shan’t return.”"

Frodo has the full measure of it. That would have been a horrible thing to say to them and would have made them awfully cross. It would indeed have been a very awkward thing to say. Much better that they are going.

"He wondered how many days he and Merry would have to trail Frodo and Sam before they could safely catch them up without the risk of being sent home. "

So Pippin had convinced himself that Frodo wasn't going to allow his two younger cousins to go along, eh? My guess is that it was the Black Riders that convinced Pippin of this. He knew how protective Frodo was of them.

What's with Pippin and baths? Honestly, I half expect him to break out a squeaky toy and start singing "Rubber Ducky" a la Ernie from Sesame Street.

"“It’s coming out in a minute,” whispered Pippin to Merry."

Another quote of a quote. This one just seems so Pippin. I'm glad you included it, although it is not the main thrust of the conversation.

"“Just this, my dear old Frodo: you are miserable, because you don’t know how to say good-bye. You meant to leave the Shire of course. But danger has come on you sooner than you expected, and now you are making up your mind to go at once. And you don’t want to. We are very sorry for you.”"

I also like the way Merry said this. You pick out good quotes to use!

"He put a companionable arm around his younger cousin’s shoulders. “Are you all right, Pip?” he asked.

Pippin looked at him seriously. “I don’t know. I’m sad, for Frodo. He doesn’t want to do this. And I have to admit, I’m frightened. But it's funny, Merry; in spite of it all, I’m happy.” Now he grinned, that infectious Tookish grin. “We’re going on an adventure. Together.”

Merry gave the shoulders a slight squeeze. “Yes. Yes, we are. Together.”"

I loved this ending! Onward to the epilogue!


Author Reply: *snort* Cross? I think that may be the understatement of the year! But fortunately for Frodo, he didn't have to say any such thing as they knew about it all already, LOL!

Mostly the Black Riders, and also the fact that he knew how protective Frodo was anyway. Logically it did not make sense to take those two into danger. They had no more idea--less even--of how the Wide World worked than Frodo himself; they were their father's only sons and heirs; they were young, especially Pippin, who wasn't even of age; most of all, they were *dear* to Frodo. I think only the knowledge of how determined they would be to follow alone if he did *not* take them made him relent.

Pippin does seem to like his bath. It's canon, as we see here! LOL! And it does show his resilience, his youthful optimism, and his general joy in life.

I'm glad you liked the ending. It really *was* going to be the ending, but I just couldn't leave poor Fatty alone...

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