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Ancestress  by Dreamflower 9 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 20 on 10/25/2011
"Gandalf chuckled to remember Merry’s long watch over his older cousin—all to insure that in the event Frodo ever left the Shire, he could not give Merry the slip."

I remember this too, though the name of the story escapes me...

I love Gandalf's thought processes, as always! You write him very well indeed - always a plus when one is dealing with hobbits!

Kaylee

Author Reply: Actually it's canon. In "A Conspiracy Unmasked" Merry says "I knew Bilbo, too. To tell you the truth, I had been watching you rather closely ever since he left. I thought you would go after him sooner or later; indeed I expected you to go sooner, and lately we have been very anxious."

I expanded on this in my third multi-chapter story, "A Conspiracy of Hobbits", but several other good writers have also expanded on it as well.

And thank you for your compliments on my Gandalf, as he's my favorite non-hobbit character!

SoledadReviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/15/2010
Nobody can give a Brandybuck a slip. *nodnod*

Perhaps I'm strange in my ways, but while Bilbo will always be my favourite Hobbit, from LOTR, Merry has been my favourite.

Author Reply: I wouldn't say Merry was my "favorite" exactly-- I do love all five hobbits so very dearly, I don't think I have a favourite among them-- but in some ways I feel I "know" Merry best, we seem to learn so much more about him in canon than we do the others.

And of course, Frodo was half Brandybuck. Some folk forget that.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/5/2010
Good reasoning on Gandalf's part why Frodo reacts so differently than Bilbo. He's right in his assessment, I think.

Author Reply: Indeed!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/5/2010
I wouldn't want to try and answer all of Frodo's questions. Gandalf will have his hands full.

Author Reply: He will. But if anyone is in a position to *have* some of those answers, well, Gandalf is the first to come to mind!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/4/2010
A lovely introspective moment as Gandalf contemplates what makes this particular Baggins tick. He does know his hobbits well.

Author Reply: Indeed he does! I love to show Gandalf thinking about hobbits!

VirtuellaReviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/3/2010
You've made me really, really impatient to hear those answers now!

Author Reply: LOL! I really did not have this chapter in order to be a cliffie of sorts-- I needed to have Gandalf bring some of this up, to set the parameters of the conversation, because of the 300 word limit.

In some ways, I wish I was not constrained by that-- I could get on with the story much more easily if not for that pesky word limit! But I do enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to advance the story and fulfill the limit at the same time; every now and then, though, there's going to be a place where I have to pause to set things up-- not noticeable in a conventional chapter, but very much so when the chapters have to be so short.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/3/2010
Frodo has perhaps far too much reason to have questions and old griefs come back on him now, the dear Hobbit! Gandalf knows both these Bagginses well!

Author Reply: Indeed, these questions and old griefs are healing, but not yet healed, and Gandalf knows that he must begin to find answers to the questions before the griefs can be completely mended.

He probably knows them better than anyone else not a hobbit ever could-- and in fact, better than other hobbits, save three who remain East of the Sea now.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/3/2010
Frodo was in every way not only a remarkable hobbit, but a remarkable person altogether.

Quite! I do so look forward to how this is all going to play out! A little naughty of you to draw out the suspense here, :) but I have to admit that it makes it all the more enjoyable too.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: With only 300 words per chapter, it's kind of hard NOT to draw it out, LOL! I'm glad you are enjoying it!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 20 on 7/3/2010
Very promising!

I love the way you sum up Frodo's character and experience. You pack so much into an economy of words!

Looking forward to hearing Gandalf's answers, but first Eldest is taking me to breakfast! (woohoo!)

Author Reply: I'm glad you think I sum it up well; since each chapter has to be precisely 300 words, I *have* to use an economy of them!

I hope you had a lovely breakfast!

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