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Twice Twenty  by Dreamflower 6 Review(s)
AspenJulesReviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/1/2006
Oh, this was lovely!

However, 2 things in particular struck me. First, Gandalf must have used up his stock of whatever it was that allowed him to "calm the little one [Pippin]by his mere presence" since by the time of the Quest, it seemed to be gone, LOL. Or was that Pippin calmed down from what he *would* have been? YIKES!

Also, I love him at the end going from serious reverent teaching mode to giving them something with which to "make a joyful noise"! LOL

Author Reply: Well, I suppose it's that Pippin got too big for his lap, perhaps, LOL! And yeah--calmed down from what he *would* have been fits as well. Even grown, my Pippin can get pretty hyper, although I hope he doesn't act silly or childish (childlike, I do not mind, but canon Pippin was *not* childish). Still, he's got a lot more energy than is good for him sometimes.

I could not imagine Gandalf maintaining that serious tone with the little hobbits for long--he delighted in making them happy, for one thing!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/9/2006
Oh, how beautiful. The stars are described in such a poetic way here, and I doubt any of them will ever forget it. It brings to mind the Lay of Gil-galad and the single star that Frodo and Sam saw in Mordor.

The end was cute--"glorious noise" indeed! :)
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: I am glad--I was trying for something poetic, some way that Gandalf could impress the importance of the stars to his young friends. While not Elves, the stars *would* one day come to mean quite as much to them as to the Firstborn.

But Gandalf would not forget that they were children still, and what they would love to do!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/19/2006
I needed a good story tonight, and this was absolutely perfect. I never tire of star-gazing. I once lived in a place where I could clearly (and literally) see a million stars on a cloudless night, and oh, how I miss that. Thank you for taking me back there for a wee visit. :-)

Pippinfan

Author Reply: The stars were so very *important* in Arda, and I know that Gandalf would not have been comfortable having his fireworks praised as being better than stars--it would not sit well with a Messenger from the West. But he would be gentle and instructive, realizing he is dealing with children.

GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/16/2005
Does Gandalf have some Baggins blood in him, too? He must, because he sure can tell a story as well as Bilbo or Frodo. lol!

I love the relationship that Gandalf has with the hobbits, especially the young ones. It is not just anyone whose lap Pippin would clamber up into and calm down. Sam must have been in his element, hearing a story from a wizard of long ago when the stars were created.

By the way, this story is slightly out of order and should come before the last couple in your chronological list, based upon the ages of the four hobbits.

Author Reply: Gandalf *is* a good story-teller, isn't he? But then he's spent a lot of time among the story-loving hobbits...

I always think the hobbits thought of Gandalf as a sort of "grandfatherly figure", and I believe he went out of his way to cultivate that image...

You are right. I do need to move this one up a couple of stories. Thanks for the heads up. I'm not sure how soon I'll get to it, though.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/17/2005
The stars will be so important to them one day. And love the identification of Gandalf here with Saint Nicholas with the finger alongside the nose. And love the image of the glorious noise.

Author Reply: *giggle* You know, I had not really thought of the St. Nick thing, but possibly that is where my subconcious dredged up the image. For I do think of that gesture as being associated with jolly old men! LOL!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/10/2005
Wonderful explanation of how the stars came to be. I loved Gandalf's easy manner with the hobbits as he told the story.

Author Reply: Thank you.

It's a very over-simplified version of what JRRT gives us in the Silm; it's obviously somewhat abridged for children's understanding, but I tried to keep it to what JRRT had said.

I always think that Gandalf was almost like a grandfatherly figure to the younger hobbits. Hobbits had a combination of affection and cheekiness towards him, as well as a totally off-kilter understanding of his wizardly powers--attributing to him basically omniscience, as well as being able to turn people into "something unnatural", yet all they ever usually saw of his powers were his fireworks, LOL! And he clearly loved them dearly.


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