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Dreamflower's Mathoms II  by Dreamflower 5 Review(s)
BodkinReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/11/2006
Hobbits need hobbits. I love Merry's decision to over-ride Frodo and Aragorn - and offer the care that Frodo needed. Gandalf, Aragorn, the elf, the dwarf - they do their best, poor things, but they're handicapped by their ignorance. They have cottoned on to the importance of food, though!

Author Reply: Hobbits need hobbits.

Indeed. That is the linchpin to me, of my whole concept of hobbits and the Shire and their role in the story. They do very much *need* one another.

When Frodo is out of the picture, Merry automatically takes charge--especially when it concerns Frodo's well-being. The rest of the Fellowship are "family", but they are *not* hobbits.

Food? Oh yes indeed! *grin*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/9/2006
Oh, a most appropriate sorrow for our beloved Frodo, and a most appropriate comforting of him and the rest as well. His Merry indeed knows how to ease it.

And love that in the end it is Gandalf who sits by him and soothes him back to sleep.

Author Reply: Yes--the events of the Quest, and dealing with the malice of the Ring had suppressed Frodo's usual reaction to his grief, so that it was far worse when it did awaken. But *this* grief is something Merry has always known how to deal with.

I'm glad you liked the part with Gandalf at the end. It felt appropriate to me to have him be the one to lull Frodo back into rest.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/8/2006
“I wish I would’ve realized what it was bothering Mr. Frodo,” said Sam sadly.

Pippin shook his head. “No, Sam. That particular grief of Frodo’s has always been Merry’s job to handle, you know. I’ve heard it told often enough, that it was his job even when he was a baby.”


Ohhh, that's so dear and heartwarming. I just love this story -- the way the hobbits defy the King (very logically), and Frodo is surrounded with love, and how perceptive all the hobbits (and Aragorn and Gandalf) are regarding Frodo's needs.

Author Reply: I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and found it heartwarming. No one can really comfort a hobbit like other hobbits, but the rest of the Fellowship of course, are like family as well. And of course, I had to have lots of "Frodo spoiling" for Febobe!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/8/2006
Oh poor Frodo. I always did think that the Prof was expecting a bit much of Frodo and Sam when he put two big feasts so close to them waking up. And of course Merry's logic is impeccable about not being aware of the date. But that doesn't always make things better. I know, having just totally forgotten the birthday of a close friend! So goodtiming on this Dreamflower - thanks.

Author Reply: Yes, well JRRT was not a trained medical person, and I think that he may have slightly overestimated hobbity toughness at times, LOL!

Merry knows it's not the logic that will comfort Frodo, though it may help to calm him, but his own presence there as he has always done.

It is easy to forget dates, it really is--but Frodo would have taken it extra hard because he had never done so before, and also because his conscience is still extra-sensitive, due the Ring constantly exacerbating his sense of guilt.

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/7/2006
*smiling widely and delightedly* Oh, Dreamflower! I love it! For all you say you'd rather Frodo *be* the caregiver, you do Frodo h/c exceedingly well--better than many. You don't overdo, you keep it realistic, you capture the characters as perfectly as ever. I wish I was this good at what I call "regulating" when I do h/c. My biggest weakness is getting entirely too carried away; and then I blush when I look back at it later. Comes of being very melodramatic, I suppose. :)

Poor Frodo! Yes, that would have upset him to think he had forgotten his dear parents' death, and that cursed Ring made his sense of guilt overactive, I think. It's a good thing the twins found him; it would have been a splendid fix to get lost in such a place looking for the proper chamber--I've done such things more times than I'd like to admit to, and it is *not* fun. But how exactly is this AU to your other stories? Is it the date of Primula and Drogo's death? I'm familiar with the Shire calendar, but not enough to use it, and the usual date doesn't come to mind at the moment.

Oh, Frodo is so lucky to have such devoted cousins and friends! I loved Merry going in and comforting him, and Pippin and Sam refusing to leave the doorway, and the breakfast was great! I imagine that was disconcerting for Frodo to be waited on and fussed over so.

And the end was just perfect--sweet and soothing, and left me smiling. :)
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Well, thank you so much for your very kind words! I really prefer to be restrained in my h/c, and I'm glad you think I accomplished it. I try to use just as much "h" as is necessary for the plot, and not one smidge more. As for this story, well since it was written for dear Febobe, I had her preferences in mind while writing it, so of course Frodo had to have lots of TLC.

No, the only way in which it is AU is that there was just no *time* for this story to take place in "my" universe; other elements are the same, such as the date for Frodo's parents to drown and so forth. But my story "Chance Encounter" simply leaves no room in the timeline for this story--yet it seemed the perfect setting to fulfill Febobe's request. So that's why the AU label.

All who know Frodo love him and will show their devotion--but the other three hobbits especially know what kind of comfort he needs! And I could not see Pippin and Sam going off to their own beds when they were still worried about Frodo! As for the breakfast, well, there again--that was for Febobe, but I really rather enjoyed it myself!

And I'm glad you liked the end--next to the other hobbits, I love Gandalf asserting his position of "grandfather figure" in order to watch over Frodo.

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