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In The Service of The King  by Grey Wonderer 19 Review(s)
curiouswombatReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/4/2014
I always think it is a shame that people don't often leave reviews after the first few weeks of a story being posted.

I had not read this before - I have actually come to it from the link at the MEFA Archive - and I just want to say how much I enjoyed it. I do love the idea of Pippin doing at least as much for the reign of the new king, in his own way, than any of the others.

And the image of Boromir 'defiling' the fountain made me giggle, and will continue to do so for quite a while!

Mysterious JediReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/23/2005
I like your story.

<>< Saved from sin through Christ,
mj

Author Reply: Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2005
This is wonderful, I'm all teary. I quite obviously haven't read enough of your stories.

I loved all the descriptions of Pippin's Elvish.

I loved his handling of and enjoyment with the lads of Gondor.

I loved his desire to give the children places to play.

Simply and thoroughly wonderful!!

Author Reply: Thank you! I am so glad you enjoyed this one. The idea came from Pansy_Chubb. She was the one who sent me the bunny and Marigold's Beta did wonders for it all. For some reason I could hear Pippin mangling Elvish, though still singing it in a very lovely clear voice, just mispronouncing every single word. LOL I also thought that coming from a place as lush and green as the Shire it would be hard for Pippin to understand lads playing in the streets of the White City without any grassy areas in which to run. Thanks for the lovely review!

storyfishReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/28/2005
Wonderful story, GW! I didn't plan on reading the entire thing before class this morning, but your story just hooked me in. The whole story arc is just so satisfying--everybody thinks Pip's just messing up again, but in reality he's showing just how thoughtful he is--and what a great Thain he'll be someday. :-) Thanks so much!

Author Reply: Thank you so much for the lovely review. I am glad that you enjoyed the story. I do think that Pippin must have been a wonderful Thain once he took on the position and I think that might have been due to his experiences away from the Shire as well as his own personality. Thanks for reading and have a great day in class!

Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/22/2005
*applauds*

What a wonderful story! :D

Author Reply: Thank you! I am glad that you liked it and I thank you for reading it!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/19/2005
*heaves a great sigh of happiness*

What a wonderful and satisfying story, GW. It is, of course, filled with humor--I don't think anything you write would be totally devoid of humor--but it is a serious and loving look at the rebuilding of a City, and how there are many different ways to contribute to such a task.

I adore Pippin in this. He's still so completely Pippish, falling into trouble without ever trying, and yet still grown-up enough to take responsibility for his actions, and mature enough to see what truly needs doing.

Thanks so much for sharing this lovely, lovely, lovely story! I truly do think it's one of your best ever.

Author Reply: Wow! Thank you very much for that amazing review. One of the things that I love most about Pippin is that no matter what he seems to maintain his innocence and his spirit of fun. He just continues to be Pippish no mater what. All I can say is that I had a terrific Beta on this one and a wonderful plot bunny to work with. You just gotta love a good plot bunny!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/18/2005
LOL, only Pippin could get into trouble for wading in a fountain. That's a good idea Pippin had about finding somewhere for the children to play though. Gondor never did seem very kid-friendly to me with all that stone.

I loved everyone's reactions when Pippin was hauled into the dining room, and Faramir and Aragorn trying to have a serious conversation about what Pippin's punishment should be. It's also very fitting that Pippin would be more afraid of his cousins than Strider.

And the Elvish singing - LOL! Poor Legolas and Frodo, having to endure that trauma. :) Ty was a cute kid and Pippin can finally put his knowledge of being the youngest to good use.


Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing and for reading. Glad that you liked it. You know that Pippin can get in trouble almost anywhere. He's talented that way. I figured that Pip would be good for Ty and I am glad that you liked Ty in this. Thanks!

SlightlyTookishReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/17/2005
The End?? But there must be a sequel! I want to know about Pippin's "official appointment" with Aragorn!

This is one of your best stories, GW. I love how you show Aragorn settling into his duties as king and winning over his people, and Faramir advising him. The memory of Boromir gave me a giggle, and I love the bantering between the hobbits and just everything about Pippin :D

Author Reply: Why thank you. I had fun writing this one. I may wind up writing more about this one after "Hammer" is finished. For now, this really is all that there is. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/15/2005
So there you go! Pippin the wanderer proves to be the one whose ease of manner and ability to get on with allcomers can encourage the people of the White City to open their minds to the king.

Pippin and the boys scrubbing the fountain is actually a clever high-profile way of showing everyone that the king tempers justice with mercy and understanding - and the story about Boromir is just a massive plus. Although I imagine that a hung-over seventeen-year-old accepted his punishment rather more grumpily and with rather less grace.

And then there's the singing! Pippish, indeed! And Legolas's pained expression when he congratulates himself on the graciousness of his response to mangled Elvish. And Haldir teaching the songs in order to penalise Legolas for the dwarf's presence. And Gimli's indignation and the hint of revenge in his eyes. This is just one delightful incident piled on another until the whole concoction is so rich!

The formal appointment with the King - at the same time and place as the informal meeting with Strider - will certainly result in some allocated play areas for children. Which is probably a good thing - as long as they are chosen for something other than being out of the way and not wanted by anyone else.

Splendid end to a splendid story. So pleased to read it.

Author Reply: Thank you so much for this lovely detailed review. For some reason I just thought that Pippin's accent might be at odds with the Elvish language and I could just see Haldir getting even for the Dwarvish visitor. I did so want Boromir in the story and so a prior adventure seemed the perfect way to have the entire Fellowship in the story. I get the entire Fellowshi[ into a fiction very often as I mainly write pre-Quest. I always worry about non-canon incidents cropping up in my Quest and Post_Quest writing so I try to stay Pre_Quest. I am so glad that you enjoyed this one and thank you for your help with the format issues. Otherwise this part of the story might have been nearly unreadable. LOL

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/15/2005
I really loved this story - so hobbity of Pip to go off with the children, and how sweet of him to think of them not having anywhere to play. Wonderful, too, that he managed to remind everyone of the Shire and why they had gone on the Quest in the first place.

Boromir's 'defilement' of the fountain made me roll about. That wouldn't have been inspired by a well-known tale about a fountain in Wellington, NZ, and two very naughty hobbits, would it?! :-))

Author Reply: I thank you for reviewing and I am pleased that you enjoyed this.

As to Boromir and the fountain, the answer would be yes. LOL That did make me think of this but I was also dying to use that line, "Gondor has no King." Those two things together and the fact that I wanted Boromir in this story somehow came together to make that part of the story. I started to credit the "Wellington Fountain Incident" at the end of the story but decided to see if anyone noticed and so far you are the first to mention it. LOL

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