Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Much Ado about Mushrooms  by Kara's Aunty 6 Review(s)
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 :)

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/16/2008
I've been meaning to review this story - poor Farlibar and wise Sam, Faramir and Aragorn. I can't wait to see what their punishment is for those two rascals. They really did overstep the mark with the poor cook, who is obviously not very sociable and not used to their mischief. I'm sure Frodo would have disapproved of such behaviour in two gentlehobbits.

Looking forward to the next chapter.

Author Reply: Hello Baggins Babe,

You're right: Frodo would have disapproved of their behaviour. But worry not, he would also approve of Sam's punishment for them...

Thank you so much for reviewing, it really does make my day when people take a few moments to tell me what they thought.

M :)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/15/2008
Ah, another chapter! Cute descriptions of the growing stomachs of Merry and Pippin. :) And the order of good company and good food and how to change the order of that.

As for their punishments, hey, if you do the crime, you do the time. They'll think twice before they try to do anything like this again, and then they'll do it anyways!! All this in a plot to get a few extra mushrooms! And Sam will be forgiven, right? Of course he will be.

Namarie, God bless, Aunty Anne :)

Author Reply: Hello Aunty!

They certainly will think twice about being so naughty again - and at their ages too! Shame on them!

But they are good folk at heart and know when they've done wrong. So the next time they err (and they probably will - they are Merry and Pippin, after all), it won't be to quite the same extent.

As for Sam being forgiven, who knows...

Of coures, Sam would just roll his eyes at Merry 'downgrading' him to mortal enemy - and then tell him to behave himself. So don't feel to worried for our favourite gardener!

All the best.

Aunty M :)

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/15/2008
The amusion started at the title and didn't leave off.

It's good that Merry and Pippin are starting to feel remorse for their actions, but I have a feeling it's going to go right back to Railing Against the Cruelty of the World once whatever the hideous punishment is starts.

Pippin's rather less-than-decorous remark made me laugh--that sounds like one of those tales that'll get told when Faramir's a tween for the express purpose of embarrassing him.

I do hope that Merry and Pippin won't be put off by any increase in girth. That's respectable for a hobbit, that is!

...Is there a level of enemy worse than mortal? I'll have to stay tuned to find out! ^_^

Author Reply: Hello Celeritas,

Merry and Pippin can't help but eventually feel remorse - when the gravity of the result of their 'joke' is pointed out to them. They are very good hobbits at heart, as you know, just a little....well, you know THAT too!

Cheeky Pippin! But Merry does ask for it sometimes and it's so enjoyable to plan their dialogue, really I can't tell you how much I enjoy that! But they won't be put off by spreading waistlines, they are hobbits after all. I blame Pip's remark & Merry's reaction on te influence of the Quest and the company of Big Folk currently camped across the Brandywine.

My poor Sam, being steadily downgraded in friendship status (that was also fun to write). Thankfully he's blissfully unaware of it. I have absolutely no idea though if there's a level of enemy worse than 'mortal' - yet!

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

M :)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/15/2008
Dear, dear, dear! Merry is just beset on all sides isn't he? (And Pippin too, for that matter--though somehow I don't think he seems to be taking it all quite so hard as Merry is...) Sam, Faramir *AND* Aragorn--all of them in league to give them a lesson!

I just adore all the hints that little Faramir is a little rascal himself! Like father like son...

“…is that we all had a small, erm, misunderstanding.”

“A small misunderstanding!” snorted Sam. “And I have a small family.”

Merry thought this was very unfair. Sam had the largest family on Bagshot Row - everyone knew that. And it was still growing.

Of course, Pippin just had to say: “Well, technically, yes. Most of them are very small, what with being under ten years old…”

Four sets of eyes now glared at the Took and he wisely discontinued uttering his particular brand of nonsense.,


*cackles madly* You know, you really should have put a Beverage Warning on this chapter. Fortunately for my monitor, I had just finished my tea!

But...you still didn't tell us what Sam's going to do to them...



Author Reply: Hello Dreamflower,

Pippin isn't taking it as hard as Merry, you're quite right. That's because he knows they were both wrong to behave so foolishly (even though he didn't quite realise the depths of fear Farlibar had been exploring when they were having their little joke on him).

Faramir-lad - indeed, like father like son. So naturally, his favourite Gamgee ladss are Merry & Pippin!

A Beverage Warning? I take that as a great compliment!! (I actually DID briefly but a Drink Warning on the home page story summary when I posted chapter 3, but it made me look like an arrogant twat and I was embarrased to see it there, so I took it off again).

The reason I still haven't told you what their punishment is going to be is because I'm still thinking up things suitable enough for the naughty rascalls to do, but be assured - I will see to it that they are properly punished, or my name's not Kara's Aunty!

Well, actually, that's not my real name...but you know what I meaan.

Thanks for the detailed review and your show of appreciation. It makes writing each chapter most worthwhile!


M :)

Return to Chapter List