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Of All the Confounded Nuisances  by GamgeeFest 7 Review(s)
nancylea57Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/14/2008
just a short romp this day, but enough for excedirn cure #398, poor bilbo unpainting a cat in the heat of the day with a headaching already, to the sinus pressure.

Author Reply: Bilbo certainly had an eventful day - one he would much rather have spent rambling through the woods or curled up with a book.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2006
Well, after such a brilliant review by Dreamflower there's not much left to say, only this:

As for apologizing to Widow Rumble, we have already done so, Merry for his ill behavior, and I for not watching him as closely as I should have been. We stopped by on our way to market, but she wasn’t there, so we went again on our way back. She accepted the apologies, and we’ll both be doing chores at her home tomorrow.”

“Oh,” Bilbo said lamely.


That is something that Bilbo had not expected. Frodo was very well able to handle the situation on his own, and he did not only talk Merry into apologizing, he did apologize himself and was willing to be "punished" as well.
That should show Bilbo that his younger cousin is indeed capable of being the new Master of Bag End and it should relieve Bilbo a little bit of his multiple sorrows.


Author Reply: Had Bilbo been thinking more clearly, he would have realized that Frodo would take the initiative on this. But then again, had he been acting more like himself, Frodo would have told him about the cat and his plans to stop by the Widow's on the way into town. Bilbo does know that Frodo is ready to be on his own, but like any parent/guardian, he worries about his heir and wants to know that Frodo will be provided for and taken care of after he leaves. If anything, it's Frodo who will be doubting himself once he hears of Bilbo's plans.

Thanks for the review!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/19/2006
Oh, my dear! This is an absolutely *brilliant* fic! I love it!

*squees and squishy hugs for the lovely Bilbo fic!*

There is just so much to adore in this: poor clueless Folco, Fatty making such an *interesting* breakfast, mischievous Merry--and Frodo, so worried about Bilbo, so protective of his cousin. Sam, so earnest and eager to please, so competent at all he does, even at this young age. And Bilbo himself--you have really captured him here.

I love the way you detail his plans, his concern that everything which is rightfully Frodo's be all tied up neatly, and out of reach of grasping relatives (the S.-B.s to be specific). I also like that you have Frodo being provided for by his parents as well. You know my take on that--I really cannot see that he was left penniless by them.

And I enjoyed seeing him trying to make lists of gifts and so forth. Again, very much in character for him. He is determined that *this* Adventure will not take him all unprepared!

But I was beginning to get a bit worried about his crankiness (although, really, a smial full of tweens and teens could account for some of that) but also his headaches. And then:

Bilbo left the still-silent kitchen and headed down the tunnel to his room. He closed the door softly behind him and went to his clothes chest. He dug through the piles of clothes to the very bottom and pulled out a small box with a lock. He reached into his weskit pocket for the key and unlocked the box. Inside, lay a gold ring of simple make. Bilbo frowned down at it, picked it up and held it in his opened palm.

“Well, I tried to leave you be, but you wouldn’t let me,” Bilbo muttered to it. It glinted in the sunlight coming through the bedroom window. Bilbo closed his fist around it and grudgingly slipped it into his pocket. Yes, it was definitely time to leave the Shire, and all that was in it, behind.


Yes, yes indeed. Reason to worry. No wonder, with the Ring preying on his mind like that. A chilling twist, to end this rather fluffy tale. Just brilliant!!





Author Reply: Thank you! I know how much you love Bilbo fics and now I'm thinking I should finally get around to writing that one Bilbo fic I've had on my plot bunny list for ages, since this one seemed to have gone over so well.

Folco is just doomed to be clueless, isn't he? And then a clutz and babble mouth on top of it! No wonder he was kept out of the Conspiracy! Fatty's breakfast would have gone over much better without the pickle juice. That's just not something you want in an omelet, lol. And what could be said about Merry, other than he's Merry. ;)

Frodo never imagined there would be a day that he'd have to protect Merry from Bilbo, but it's happened and for reasons he can only guess at now, but will understand far too soon. He only knows that Bilbo hasn't been acting like himself lately, which is reason enough for him to be concerned. Had Sam known that it was the Gaffers "demands" that he get in out of doors at midday, he might have taken the order to relax more to heart, but as it was, he just didn't want his father to think he was slacking on the job.

I always worry that I don't portray Bilbo accurately. I'm glad he passed the Dreamflower Test. :) The SBs are the only relatives who would attempt to actually take anything from Frodo, and so he would want to make certain, from the start, that there was no chance of that happening. Considering how many hobbits he will be inviting to this party, he would have started his lists very early, not wanting anyone to be left out (even though as we know, he still managed to forget a few of them). I can't see that Primula and Drogo would have left Frodo with nothing either. Even if he couldn't inherit it right away, they would have put something aside in trust for him until he *could* claim it.

lol And you know me, I'm all about the plot twists. I'm not happy if I can't fit one into my fics every once in awhile and this one was long overdue. Thanks for reading and for the review! I'm so glad you enjoyed this so much. :) *hugs*

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/19/2006
Being without the Ring - seems a bit like trying to wean yourself off caffeine. Only more so. Mind you, it might have been easier on a day that wasn't so blazingly hot, in a smial that was spared the presence of Merry and Folco. Although maybe they were an effective distraction. It was one dratted thing after another for poor Bilbo. The only haven of peace was the lunch prepared by Sam - and then back came the disruptions.

Most entertaining! Well - unless you were Bilbo, of course.

Author Reply: Probably more like nicotine, if Gollum is anything to go by, but to the nth degree. ;) The Ring certainly had a lot to do with Bilbo's mood. Even Frodo says that he's been rather grouchy lately, to the point that Frodo didn't trust to tell him about the cat and hoped to square it away before Bilbo even had to find out about it. So we know it's not just this day, with the bad cooking, clumsy teens and unrelenting heat, though admittedly those things didn't help matters much either. Sam was a pleasant respite from the madness - once Bilbo convinced to get inside under cover of the heat that is, but even then Sam wasn't cooperating completely, refusing to "take it easy" the way Bilbo wanted him to. :)

Thanks for the review!

Elf FriendReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/19/2006
That was an interesting point to make at the end. So perhaps his headache was due to the Ring? It's not letting him rest at all! I also thought it was quite funny how Sam was continually insisting on doing something; he really is "...stubborner than a pack mule and a ninnyhammer besides." :)

Author Reply: Elf Friend! I'd given you up to the Blue. So good to see you back! *hugs*

Exactly. The Ring is really starting to weigh on Bilbo's mind by this point and not letting him get any rest. Had it not been for that, Bilbo would have been able to handle things much more in stride.

Sam just can't sit still, can he? He always has to be doing something and I don't think he would even know how to relax while he's on duty at this point. LOL, that's as good a description of him as any, though it doesn't mention his level-headedness, dependability and loyalty. ;)

Thanks for the review and I hope to see more of you.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/19/2006
You do know how to hit folks between the eyes with a brick don't you GamgeeFest? There I was happily, (or not so happily,) enjoying this tale of difficult tweenagers and then we get to the last bit! Wow!!!!!

Author Reply: *hides pile of bricks* *walks away whistling* LOL, I do love a good plot twist and it's been so long since I've written one. I thought about putting the book quote at the beginning to give fair warning but then that would have taken away from the wow effect at the end. I wanted to take a peek at Bilbo's life during this time frame, when the Ring was starting to really weigh on him and occupy his mind. Had it not been for that, Bilbo would have approached this day with his usual good cheer and witty sense of humor. ^_^ Thanks for reading and for the review!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/19/2006
(“Would you like it if someone came along and put your bum in can of red paint?) LOL For a minute there I was afraid that Bilbo actually meant to make the punishment fit the crime. LOL

Loved the twist at the end and enjoyed Bilbo very much.

Author Reply: LOL I'm sure Bilbo may have thought of it fleetingly but in all practicality, that would have been punishing himself more than Merry. I mean, Merry wouldn't go for that without a fight and Bilbo is getting on in years. ;)

I think I feel the same way about writing Bilbo as you do Sam, so it's a relief to hear I made him believable enough. Thanks for the review! :)

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