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A Mid-Year's Walking Trip  by GamgeeFest 7 Review(s)
trishetteReviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/23/2005
Oh... I do pity Sam so... I know exactly how he's feeling about the social class thing, considering that I'm not exactly a rich girl myself. Darn the Gaffer for making Sam so self-conscious around the gentlehobbits...

Author Reply: I was always the kid with no money growing up, or with the least amount of toys or Christmas presents. My friends always had to get things for me whenever we went anywhere. So I know how Sam feels, being among gentlehobbits who never have to worry about money. It's not just the Gaffer, but the strict hobbit social class, that Frodo and them just can't fully understand from Sam's position. But Sam will obviously learn to loosen up in time. How else would he agree to spy on Frodo for the Conspiracy? ;)

Thanks for the review!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/3/2005
Looks like the end of Frodo's peaceful walking trip is at hand if his cousins are lost in the woods. Seems Merry isn't having any success at all with Sam at this point. I often wonder what it would have been like between them if their places had been reversed and Merry had been the gardener. I just know Sam wouldn't have let that matter to him. Well, on to read more.

Author Reply: This day will be quite eventful for our hobbits. ;)

Merry's certainly having his share of trouble trying to get Sam out of his shell. And if Merry had been the gardener, I would be very afraid for the garden, lol. :P But then Merry wouldn't be Merry and Sam wouldn't be Sam. Actually, I think Merry would be more like Jolly and Sam more like Fatty. Interesting thought. Glad to see you back. :)


Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/30/2005
Oh dear. Now Merry and Pippin have gone and gotten themselves lost! Well...maybe they will find some water this way. Merry trying to talk to Sam was very well done. It must be frustrating for both of them. Pippin had some very good advice though, about just asking Sam to forgive him. I'm looking forward to more!

Author Reply: If only all they did was get themselves lost, lol! But alas, the day is still young. :P

Asking forgiveness will be a good step in the right direction, but after so many years of avoiding the real issues, Merry's going to have some gut spilling to do.

Thanks so much for reading! I'm so pleased you're enjoying it.

PeriantariReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/28/2005

I love this line by PIppin:
“I’ve always been smart,” Pippin said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “In fact, I’m smarter than you really, I just don’t like to flaunt it in front of you. I know how sensitive you can be about such things, seeing as you’re so competitive and all.”

LOL haha so funny~!! i love your Pippin and your Merry... in fact i think you have all hobbits described very very well.

I love the Merry and Sam conversation... very interesting indeed and i like the tension you build there. It will be very interesting on how they become close to how they were when they planned the Conspiracy in 3018, following Frodo on to the QUest. (maybe you can write stories building up to the Conspiracy ;)

And wow... what a cliff-hanger you left us all with--
where are Merry and Pippin? 0_o Is trouble starting? (i know you hinted at some h/c... i can't wait to see who trouble lands on... :P)

I can't wait for more.

Great job~!

Author Reply: That Pippin sure does think highly of himself doesn't he, lol. ;) But he certainly knows how to cheer up his cousin. I'm glad you like my hobbits. They're a mixture of the books, movies and various other fics I've read.

Merry still has a couple of things to figure out before he approaches Sam again and he'll need help to do that. They'll be talking things out before they head home, but this is very much a first step. I'm sure there will be follow up fics of some sort. :)

And trouble starting? Why, whatever do you mean? ~_^

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/28/2005
Oh no! Surely Merry and Pippin haven't managed to get lost! . . . What am I talking about, of course they have - or fallen in a bog or something. Sam to the rescue.

This whole social class thing is very difficult. Sam is right - in the situation he lives with, he cannot choose to be friends or not, and a friendship that only operates at the level chosen by one partner is no friendship. Of course, if Merry can get Sam to forgive him, then maybe they will be able to work something out. But trust has to be won. Hopefully, it will.

Author Reply: I hope they haven't fallen into a bog. They'll never be seen again. ;)

Social class is a hard thing to get around sometimes, especially with Sam, who's been raised so strictly in that regard. At this point, it would be a rather one-sided friendship, which Sam is very much aware of. Merry just doesn't understand that yet.

Of course, we know they eventually make amends, what with the Conspiracy and all. They'll have plenty of time to build up the trust, and this will be the first, giant step in that direction.

Elf FriendReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/28/2005
Yay! A new chapter! I jumped for joy when I got the notification. ^^ I hope Merry and Pippin are found safely. And hopefully Merry will ask Sam for forgiveness. I don't like the distance between them. *hugs Sam..and Merry too* lol. I can't wait for the next chapter! ^^

Author Reply: Well, the day's still young. Even if Merry and Pippin are found, they still have plenty of time to cause mayhem. ;)

Merry and Sam will eventually have a heart to heart. Merry just needs to figure a few things out before that happens. He's already learned part of it from dear Pippin.

And I got your email and I'll take a look at your story as soon as I can. Maybe on Sunday since there's no game on. :)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/28/2005
Poor Merry! His timing really was unfortunate, coming up to Sam right after Sam had made a resolution to be "proper" again! Though I don't think it would be easy even then. Pippin's not only smart, but wise in his own way. And he knows Merry very thoroughly indeed.

I find myself intrigued about the food thing as well...hope you are eventually going to let us gentle readers in on it, even if you don't let Merry and Frodo know.

And the two younger cousins *were* on their way back to the camp. I hope they haven't gotten themselves into trouble...but then they probably have, or there wouldn't be a story...

Author Reply: Merry's timing really couldn't have been worse. It seems the harder he tries, the more Sam resists. Pippin touched on part of the problem, but not all of it. Merry will be getting further help before he approaches Sam again. Pippin's very good at not "flaunting his intelligence" as he said, lol. I suppose that keeps him from getting into *too* much trouble, if no one expects too much of him. :)

The great food mystery will be revealed, and Merry's not about to give up on *that* either, lol.

Well, just because they were on their way back to camp doesn't mean they were necessarily going in the right direction. ;) And the Terrible Twosome, cause trouble? No, surely not!

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