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Much Ado about Mushrooms  by Kara's Aunty 31 Review(s)
KathyGReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/18/2014
One thing I've noticed about Aragorn in this story--instead of behaving like a king trying and sentencing criminals, as he's so often obliged to do in Minas Tirith, he's behaving more like a father punishing a pair of naughty tweens!

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/22/2008
Oh my!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderfully entertaining evening reading this. Those two got everything coming to them and then some for what they did to that poor cook. Also sounds as it it was about time someone pricked a certain two hobbits' egos as well. Especially Merry's.

I agree w/Pippin BTW. I think Frodo and Bilbo would want to be related to Sam after the punishments he thought up for the two of them. More than jusitfied though.

Well done m'dear!! Well done indeed. I need to go and add this to my Favourites list here. As I'm sure I'll be reading it again at some point.

Thank you so much for sharing this w/all of us. :o)

Author Reply: Hello Tigger,

Wow, what a lovely review!

It was a very nice surprise to wake up this morning and discover this in my review box. And to know that you'd had such an entertaining evening readung my wee fic - Merry and Pippin's egos may not be the only ones that need to be deflated now!

I had a lot of fun writing this. It was supposed to be a oneshot follow up to another (more serious) fic, but sort of spiralled out of my control! I don't usually write Merry & Pippin (I normally write Sam fics), but I had no idea it was going to be so amusing thinking up trouble for them both to make and punishments for them to receive. I'll probably do another fic of them later on.

I'm really thrilled that you enjoyed this so much and that it provided you with such a pleasant evening. And THANK YOU for the Favourite. You've really made my day!!

M ;)

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/22/2008
I just loved Faraamir here and Faribar's wonderful way with words is sheer delight

Author Reply: Hello Linda,

You know I've always admired Faramir and found to be vastly underused (in both the books and the films).

So this chapter gave me an opportunity to exhibit my good opinion of him through the cook (who is in full agreement with me anyway).

I'm so happy you enjoyed it! Faramir-lovers unite!!

M ;)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/21/2008
Oh, dear me, that was a terrible punishment! And I had wondered whether Arwen would know if her admirer's poem - she was as gracious as I knew she would be.

Namarie, God bless, Aunty Anne :)

Author Reply: Hello Aunty,

It was a terrible punishment for the two, but they'll get over it (and hopefully learn their lesson). Unfortunately, Arwen only heard the one verse of the cook's song (It was all Merry-lad could remember), but it was clear she was the one being described after the spectacular fool Farlibar made of himself over her earlier that day, poor sod!

I hope you enjoyed it (despite the bounty of vengeful hobbits - they don't mean any harm, really), it was written all in good fun!

All the best,

Aunty Mo ;)

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/21/2008
Oh dear! Now I *do* pity Merry and Pippin! No mushrooms for a whole month? I hope they'll survive it ;-)

I found many passages I would have liked to quote, but that would make this review far too long. So, I just quote this:

“’Stell…” he began, but was harshly cut off.

“Don’t you ‘Stell’ me Meriadoc Brandybuck! That is a name used by the responsible adult that is my husband - not some ageing tween!”

Ageing tween? Oh, that hurt!

Pippin sniggered beside him, but Diamond was at his side in an instant.

"She was referring to you as well when she said that. And I completely agree with her.”


LOL!!! Believe me, I really pity them, but I think "ageing tween" is the perfect description!

Too bad this story is already over, for I enjoyed it a great deal!

Thank you very much!

Author Reply: Hello Andrea,

Poor Merry and Pippin indeed, no mushrooms (and possibly no 'oats' if you take my meaning) for a whole month! But it serves those cheeky boys right!

I'm thrilled you enjoyed 'Much Ado...' so much. It was only supposed to be a oneshot follow-up to 'Concerning Sam', but sort of spiralled out of my control and I had feared for a while there that I was not up to the task of writing it. Thankfully, it was worth all worry if it made you and others smile.

This story may be over, but I'm sure the future adventures of Farlibar and the Twin Evils of Eriador will have another airing on SoA at some point!

Thanks for all your wonderfull reviews!!

M ;)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/20/2008
The End?!?!?! You mean we don't get to see the famous visits to the Great Smials and Brandy Hall?? Oh my! I really do hope that they all come to a reconciliation sooner or later--Merry and Pippin really should realize what a sound hobbit Farli really is (not to mention his prowess as a cook) and Farli should really have a chance to appreciate how loyal and brave Merry and Pippin are--when they are not being rascals.

And...maybe...just maybe...they could corrupt Farli just a little into some rascality of his own.

Frodo might not approve. But I'll bet *Bilbo* would!

More please???? *makes pitiful puppy-dog eyes*

Author Reply: Hello Dreamflower,

Don't worry, I'm sure the bickering trio will come to some kind of accord (eventually) - but the journey there may be bumpy!

I'm not sure if I trust my (extremely) limited knowledge of Brandy Hall and the Great Smials to explore Farlibar's visits there.

As for Merry and Pippin corrupting the cook - interesting idea. I may just have to do another 'oneshot' at some point to explore that. If that happens, I'll dedicate it to you, how about that?

Thanks very much for your reviews throughout this fic. I'm truly glad you enjoyed it!

All the best,


M ;)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/20/2008
Now, that's a terrible punishment for two Hobbits! Poor things!

Poor children--and there's no question they were acting like children! And now they are in for it. And Aragorn, Sam, and Faramir are enjoying themselves at their expense. But they DO deserve it, don't they? Heh!

Author Reply: Hello Larner,

They deserve it indeed, the naughty boys!

It was good fun to write Aragorn and Faramir enjoying themselves for a change. They are such serious characters in the Books that I thought they deserved a chance to laugh. Fortunately, they know and love the boisterous cousins - as does Sam (despite his talent for punishing them).

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing each chapter of 'Much Ado...' You have put a great, big smile on my face!

Maureen :)

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/20/2008
I nearly choked trying to stifle my howls of laughter at this--from M&P being made to make all those copies of the poem ("But we don't even know him!" "...yet.") to Sam's punishment, which was of course about the best and cruelest thing he could have done (when in doubt, bring in the women!).

I had wondered if a ban on mushrooms would be part of the punishment, but really didn't see any of the others coming!

But the separate bedchambers really took the cake out of all of them--the best goad into good behavior that woman has ever had on man! *wicked grin*

Author Reply: Hello Celeritas,

I'm so relieved you liked it! I've been putting of writing this final chapter for a few days now because I didn't really know how to round it nicely off. In the end, I decided on a mixture of scenes that left me somewhat worried - thinking it was a bit hodgepodge. But, phew! It's finished now and also had the desired effect.

Merry and Pip really are a couple of rascals though! It's been great fun to write them (I never realised I would enjoy that so much). There is so much potential for humour with them. Especially when mixed with Farlibar (whom they still haven't apologised to!).

And being able to include more normally regal characters like Aragorn and Faranir - and not forgetting the earthy hobbit sense of my beloved Sam!

I am really happy you enjoyed this. Thank you for all your sparkling reviews throughout!


Maureen :)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/16/2008
Oh, I snickered all the way through this one! Poor, poor Merry, having to figure out something worse than "Mortal Enemy!" Now, are they going to have to sing all the verses of Farlibar's song, or what? But they brought it on themselves, of course! Foolish Hobbits.

Lovely story!

Author Reply: Hello Larner,

I'm so glad you found it funny. It was great fun to write! But now I have to think about alternate (and Merry - & Pippin-proof) punishments as well as a level of enemy worse than mortal (everyone seems to be asking about that).

Oh, well. I do box myself into these situations...

Still, the journey for these answers will at least be interesting!

And thank you for saying my story is lovely. Coming from you, that means a lot.

Ta, ta.

M :)

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/16/2008
Why, thank *you* for placing it here :)

However, that was the last time Merry felt content that day.
After that everything got worse...

and Merry wondered if there was a level of enemy worse than ‘mortal‘

Oh dear! But it was Merry's own fault. He should have stopped teasing Sam much earlier. Now he has to face the consequences. And Sam is not Farlibar!

So I'm really curious what the "punishment" will be!

Author Reply: Hello Andrea,

It was my pleasure to use your very funny limerick. It suited Merry quite well, don't you think?

Merry should not have teased Sam. Sometimes, he doesn't know to 'quit while he's ahead'. However, he and Pippin would have been in trouble regardless of whether he'd teased Sam or no - but doing so just made Sam's job of 'telling them off' all the sweeter!

Everyone's asking what the punishment is (gulps nervously). I'm still thinking about that... But if the punishment is of Sam's making (and Strider & Faramir are satisfied enough to use it), then you can be sure that Merry and Pippin will never again tease someone as mercilessly as they have poor Farlibar!

Danke dir (nochmals) für's Gedichtchen!

M :)

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