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Four of a Kind  by Grey Wonderer 98 Review(s)
AndreaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/26/2007
Just wonderful!

Gandalf had to think quickly to find a way to delay Frodo's journey to Dale. And I think the Old Wizard will give Bilbo an earful!

I agree with the others: little Frodo is SO cute :)

Thank you very much!

Author Reply: Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. Gandalf did need to be quick and luckily Frodo's map was a good delaying tactic because I do think Frodo's mind was set on going at that moment.
Bilbo will get an earful won't he? LOL

Thanks for reading!

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/26/2007
This was absolutely delightful - and putting Sarador as the 'focal' point, the tie that binds everything together, worked really well. Though the butterflies themselves did very well too. LOL

Great tale - !

Author Reply: Thank you. I am very fond of Saradoc for some strange reason and he makes his way into a lot of my hobbit stories. I wanted one person to see each of the four in this situation to tie it all together and I am very glad that I accomplished that. Thank you for noticing and for reviewing!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/26/2007
This is adorable! I love how sneaky Gandalf is in putting an end to Frodo's travel plans without actually discouraging him! *grin*

And the last sentence was so sad.

Author Reply: A wizard can be very tricksy if he needs to be. LOL With Frodo I don't think a simple 'no' would have worked. He would have been far too intelligent a child for that.

The last sentence was one of those after-thoughts that I didn't realize was part of the story. I was going for a light-hearted look at running away and something less serious than Sam's had been but in the end that line just needed to be there.

Thanks for reading!

ElemmírëReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/26/2007
*sighs dreamily*

Little Frodo is just toooooo CUTE! I especially liked his map and how he already ate all of his biscuits before he even left on his adventure :D

He really is quite the clever little lad, isn't he. Good thing for him that Gandalf came along "precisely when he meant to" and employed his own method of delaying tactics. I too would really enjoy being a fly on the walls of Bag End for Gandalf's well-meaning disscussion with Bilbo.

Poor Primula! Her reaction provided just a hint of suspense and foreboding at the end of an otherwise very plesant tale. It's even more bittersweet because she will never be there for her son when he is one day forced to leave the Shire on his quest.

Well done, GW!

~Elemmírë~

Author Reply: Frodo must have been one of those adorable, intelligent children who knew more than was good for them. I do think he would have got more information out of Bilbo's stories than other children don't you?
I thought this might be a good time for Gandalf to get to know Frodo a bit. Bilbo is in for a stern talking to I think. I suspect that Gandalf will have to let Bilbo know exactly how much of his story-telling Frodo has in mind to make use of. LOL I may have to write that at some point.
It is always sad to think of what Frodo's parents missed. I really had intended for the entire story to be light-hearted but for some reason that part just insisted on being written.
Thanks for reviewing!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/26/2007
“He might have at that. Frodo isn’t one to lie even if it makes a better tale,” Drogo said. “But traveling out of the Shire! Not our Frodo.”

For some reason this gave Primula a chill and it was some time before she felt warm again."

Gave me a chill too!

Another lovely story, GW! Frodo had thought it all out quite well, though at that age I think he would have very quickly missed hearth and home. ;-)

Author Reply: Primula knew more than she realized didn't she? I thought it might be one of those times when a mother might just get a feeling about trouble yet to come. I'm quite certain you know the feeling. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I don't think Frodo would have got far even if a certain Wizard hadn't turned up.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/26/2007
“But I must get there before dark and I mustn’t bring a great many Dwarves with me all at once. If I do have Dwarves with me and I might meet a few along the way, then I must bring then in a few at a time,” Frodo said.

Gandalf chuckled. The child knew Bilbo’s tale very well indeed.


This is so adorable, GW! What a wonderful encounter. I love how Frodo absorbed Bilbo's tales, and how Gandalf learns something new about hobbits each time he visits. No wonder he starts keeping an eye on "the best hobbit in the Shire".



Author Reply: Gandalf was impressed indeed and I do think someone should keep an eye on him at this point. It looks as if young Frodo is ready for an adventure or two. Maybe Bilbo will step in next time with something a bit more tame like a camping trip. Someone has to keep an eye on the best hobbit in the Shire. : ) Thank you for the lovely review!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/26/2007
Sounds like a 'chance meeting' might have averted a problem for a week at the very least. And I would love to overhear the conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf!

Author Reply: Yes, Gandalf came along at just the right time. I wonder who will keep Frodo from taking off once his travel trousers are clean again? LOL That will be quite some conversation between Bilbo and Gandalf. I may have to write that and put it somewhere. Thank you for reading!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2007
I was going to bicycle 2400 miles to see relatives back east. I never considered what I'd do once I got into the mountain passes, and between the west coast and my relatives' place I'd have gone through the Cascades, the Blue Mountains, and the Rockies, not to mention all kinds of other terrain a ten-year-old on a bike would never make it through.

Fortunately I started trying to bike to a lake I thought of as close to home. I made it about ten miles before I realized I'd never get home again if I didn't turn around soon. Mom was most annoyed, and probably frightened as well.

Love the planned trip and the preparations and packing, and can see he didn't actually start with that much more when he really DID leave the Shire.

And I certainly empathize with Primula!

Author Reply: Your planned bike trip sounds very exciting. I am guessing that at ten it also seemed very easy to do. Personally at ten or so I had big plans to walk about 65 miles or so to a 'near-by' town to visit a friend. LOL I never actually began the trip but I had fun planning it. Thanks for reading! I do look forward to hearing from you, especially when I attempt to write Frodo. Night!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2007
AW! This is so touching!

That isn't a one of us who are parents that haven't had something like this happen. Bless the Gaffer's heart!

I'm so glad Sammy stayed home :-)

Author Reply: Dear Sam could never leave his family unless of course, Mr. Frodo needed him. : ) Glad you enjoyed it and it really is something that parents deal with from time to time. As you know, little ones will listen when you don't think they are! LOL Thanks for reading!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2007
*sniff* Wow...I almost had to reach for a kleenex! sigh. That was very beautiful, very moving. The Gaffer could teach a few things to one particular set of parents that I know.

Now, I'm anticipating Part 2...maybe I'll hang on to this box of hankies for a bit.

Author Reply: I like to think that the Gaffer was a real soft touch for the most part. He was one of those gruff on the outside but a really sweetie on the inside kinda fathers. That's what I think anyway. Glad you enjoyed it. I don't think you'll need the kleenex on the next one but I could be wrong! I've been wrong before but don't tell anyone, ok? Out secret.

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