MaidenofValinor
· 24 February 2006
· Chapter 48: Secrets and Smiles
hahaha! I had a feeling we'd be seeing this soon! And I knew that Pippin would be sure to include the rope in his version of the story.
“Aunt Esmeralda punished me,” Pippin sighed.
That line makes me laugh, for some reason. I can just imagine Pippin saying it...aww!
Nice job. You always tickle me!
Author's reply
I am very glad that this tickled you! I could hear Pippin saying that too while looking just a bit sulky about the whole thing. LOL Thanks for reading!
GamgeeFest
· 24 February 2006
· Chapter 48: Secrets and Smiles
Well, at least now we know what happened to the rope. ;) That's just like Bilbo to stretch out the truth to make a story more entertaining. He's quite good at that, as I believe that much of his adventure in the Red Book is embellished here and there.
Author's reply
I think that the Took in Bilbo inspired him to make all of his stories more entertaining. That was one reason that I decided that Pippin was the one to continue embelishing this particular story. Another Took continuing the tradition. LOL Thanks for revieiwing. You should have known that I wouldn't leave you hanging about the rope. (sorry, couldn't resist a bit of a pun there.)
harrowcat
· 24 February 2006
· Chapter 48: Secrets and Smiles
“It’s a fine story, Mister Frodo,” Sam says.
And so say all of us GW! This was wonderful from start to finish.
Author's reply
Thank you! So sweet of you to say so. And very sweet of you to review!
shirebound
· 24 February 2006
· Chapter 48: Secrets and Smiles
This is absolutely wonderful. Dear Bilbo for covering up Frodo's mistake, and dear Frodo for loving him so, and dear Pippin for not only keeping the secret, but perpetuating the legend and the story.
Author's reply
I think Frodo and Bilbo had a wonderful friendship as well as Frodo simply being Bilbo's heir. I also think that living with Bilbo would have been an adventure for Frodo. LOL So glad you enjoyed this one. It really should have been posted with the "Baggins!" stories but I also needed it to be after "Best Made Plans" as they go together so it wound up here. Thank you for reading and I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Dreamflower
· 24 February 2006
· Chapter 48: Secrets and Smiles
Aw, GW!
I love this so much! I love the bittersweet thoughts Frodo has, watching Pippin tell the story, as we realize this is very shortly before Frodo leaves for the Grey Havens--how he loves his cousins and Sam, and how it will hurt him to truly leave them behind this time!
Yet his affection and pride in them makes him happy anyway, and I do so like seeing them through his eyes. You have captured his love for them so well. I like it very much that he remembers his long ago conversation with Pippin.
Some of the details that stand out are Pippin's pride in his new weskit, the way he stands by the hearth telling his tale, Merry's joy in listening to him, the secret winks between him and Frodo. Most of all, I love the way this story is told so well by Pippin, and his various embellishments, even though he is one of only two people in the Shire who know the truth.
This is an extremely lovely and touching fic, with all four of my favorite lads, and your trademark GW humor!
*happy sigh* Thank you, GW! This is the kind of fic that just makes me melt!
Author's reply
You are most welcome. When I first started writing this one I though it might be too confusing as it jumps between three time-lines, Frodo and Bilbo and the original prank, Pippin's conversation with Frodo, and then Pippin telling the tales at Merry's birthday celebration. I am pleased that it works in spite of all that.
I like writing Frodo in happier times but I also think he tried his best to keep up appearances for his family and friends near the end. I wanted to show him trying not to worry them but knowing his time was short with them. As you know, I can't go completely serious and so the flash backs gave me a bit of humor to work with.
Thank you for this lovely review and for reading this one! I love reviews that have details in them.
Anso the Hobbit
· 20 February 2006
· Chapter 44: Frodo's Room
I think I have read this before but it is such a dear story so I had to read it over again. Can't resist wee!Merry you know. :D
Author's reply
Always happy when someone likes a story enough to read it again. Glad you enjoyed little Merry in this one. Thanks for the review!
Anso the Hobbit
· 20 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
What a great story!
First, always get the entire story behind something even if you have to pin folks down and ask questions. If he’d have done that then surely someone would have mentioned the rope. Second, never count on Merry to show up for anything on time. Third, even with planning a prank can still go wrong. But the most important lesson of all was that he now knew exactly why his Aunt Esmeralda was his favorite Aunt.
I love that Esmie is the one to tell Pippin how he really should have done it! I also like how you manage to get into Pippin's head and the way you describe his way of thinking, rambling along without considereing before he talks or thinks, lol! Thank you for this sweetie!
Author's reply
So glad you liked it. I always enjoy writing Esmeralda for some reason and I do think she was probably a handful herself as a small child. She would have to be clever to keep up with Merry! (and Pippin too!) Thank you for the lovely review!
Larner
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
Yes, all that would help if he were to do such a thing again!
We DID do the bucket of water over the door on one another--so often, in fact Mom began making horrid threats if we did it again, threats involving cleaning the chicken house with a toothbrush, if I remember.
Thanks for a right good giggle.
Author's reply
Ouch! Now that is one serious threat! A day with a tooth brush in the chicken house would not have been pleasant! Glad this gave you a giggle and thank you for reading and reviewing!
MaidenofValinor
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
Aw...poor Pippin. I knew from the beginning it wasn't going to be Merry he hit, though, because these things never work out as planned. I think I tried to do this once, with a bucket of water, but of course, I never even go it on top of the door...Ah, well...
Author's reply
I think Pippin might have done better with water, less mess to clean up after. Tricks seldom go off as we plan them and this was definately not what Pippin planned. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Pearl Took
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
"It didn't make for a pleasant meal when what you were trying to eat kept escaping. "
That is just the best line!!
Loved this, as always with all of your stories.
Esmeralda is a wonderful hobbitess :) and you are a wonderful author :)
Author's reply
You are entirely too sweet! Thank you for that lovely review. Glad you enjoyed the line about the escaping food. It was a last-minute thing and wasn't in the original story. It occured to me while I was posting this here and so I stuck it in. Thank you for reading!
Dreamflower
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
*chuckle* I remember this from LJ! Glad you re-posted it here--it was fun to re-visit!
Author's reply
I had to put it in with all of the other 'prank related' stories. LOL Thanks for reading it again and for the review!
Andrea
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
“Well what in all the wide world of the Shire did you think would happen to the bucket?” Esmeralda said in a very Tookish tone. “You couldn’t have thought it would just up and float away.”
*snicker* I think, I would have forgotten that rope, too.
And I agree, it must be very complicated to place a bucket on top of a round hobbit door. I loved that detail!
The story about Frodo didn't mention what Bilbo did to him, after the prank was executed successfully. Maybe much more than Esme did ;-)
Author's reply
I have more on this that will be up sometime this week. It answers your question about what Bilbo did to Frodo and a few other questions as well. I am glad you enjoyed this one and thank you for the review! I thought the round door would be a major stumbling block on this trick too!
GamgeeFest
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
It's always the rope, isn't it? lol This was such an adorable look at wee Pippin. I imagine that Merry is with his friends just laughing his head off about all of this and poor Pippin is stuck with the hiccups. That first lesson was a very important one to learn. Details, especially when prank-planning, will make or break you as he quite obviously learned.
Bodkin
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
Poor Esmeralda. And Pippin was very lucky he didn't do his aunt any greater harm, or he would be facing his cousin's wrath!
It didn't make for a pleasant meal when what you were trying to eat kept escaping. Poor Pippin! Not only in disgrace, but hungry - in the presence of escaping food.
I love the way he says 'next time' - it's not in his nature to give up and even at this low point he knows there will be a next time. Probably sooner than anyone else would expect, too.
PIppinfan1988
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
This was sweet and hilarious all at once! Pippin is so funny with trying to put one over on Merry, lol. And Esme is very understanding, just like any favourite auntie. I wouldn't mind peeping in on a "new and improved" bucket-prank, complete with *rope*! This was fun to read--I enjoyed it very much. :-)
Pippinfan
Author's reply
There is a second part to this that I will post here in a few days, but it is not exactly what you might think. LOL Anyway, there is more to come on this subject and I am thinking your idea over as well. Glad you enjoyed this and thanks for the review!
harrowcat
· 19 February 2006
· Chapter 47: The Best Made Plans of Peregrin Took
Ooh, Finally! I get a spare moment to read this! Worth waiting for too!
“It wouldn’t have been so bad if someone had told me about the rope but every time I heard the story folks just left out the rope,” Pippin complained. “That’s an important detail for them to leave out, don’t you think?”
just a minor one. I'm not much of a prank player but I am sure that I wouldn't have thought of using a rope either. And I loved the detail of the difficulty of balancing a bucket on a round door!!! *chuckle*.
Author's reply
Thank you for reading and reviewing this one. There is a second bit to this that I will post here later on. It gives this one a bit of a twist. I did think the round door would make this trick all the more difficult. Glad you liked that part!
cathleen
· 17 February 2006
· Chapter 10: A Soldier's Tale
GW this was great! You have such a wonderful way with words and a terrific imagination. I love the way the soldiers had their own narrative and your young Pippin and Merry are true delights! I do love your tales.
Cathleen
Author's reply
Thank you! So glad that you enjoyed my solider and his hobbits. LOL Thanks for the review and for reading!
Larner
· 8 February 2006
· Chapter 46: Eowyn's Seashell
Oh, how wonderful a gift, and a wonderful tale of how it was passed from hand to hand as the time was right.
Author's reply
Thank you! I have always been rather fond of sea shells myself and so I liked the idea that one might wind up in the Shire. Thank you for reading and reviewing this one.
Bodkin
· 8 February 2006
· Chapter 46: Eowyn's Seashell
I love this. Eowyn - do names really impose their own personality on people? - is great. You really can't blame her for fighting back - but to hit Faramir by accident! The older brother being cool and protective and the little one who like to have his injuries noted. Repeatedly. Lovely family scene! With the dads getting the blame for not looking after them properly.
And the seashell - and Eowyn the first - and the handing on to the little Eowyn. It's a lovely complex story.
Author's reply
So glad you enjoyed it. I don't often write grown up Merry and Pippin and this may be the only one I've posted. I had fun writing the children. Thanks so much for reading!
MaidenofValinor
· 6 February 2006
· Chapter 46: Eowyn's Seashell
Aww...so beautiful. And I can't help but say...Faramir is adorable! Well, it's not like he could help it, being Pippin's son, but still, so cute! All the children are cute, Merry and Pippin are still just cute, and this entire addition was just cute cute cute. Great job as always and keep up the excellent work!
Author's reply
Thank you! I don't often write about Merry and Pippin's families and so I am glad that this went over well. I had fun writing the children, especially Freddy. LOL Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Pearl Took
· 5 February 2006
· Chapter 45: The Importance of Not Being Pippin
HEHEHEHEHE
No.
Not a good time to be Pip.
most humorous :)
Author's reply
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for reviewing it!
Larner
· 5 February 2006
· Chapter 45: The Importance of Not Being Pippin
Trust Pippin. Man, you have me giggling indeed! Poor Pippin--so candid, and so much a target for Merry's anger at the moment! Love it!
Author's reply
Thank you! I think this is the shortest fiction that I have ever written so I am pleased that it came off well. LOL
Inkling
· 5 February 2006
· Chapter 45: The Importance of Not Being Pippin
So the pony was Merry's? LOL! Who would've thought...
Cute ficlet, and loved the title!
Author's reply
The pony just belonged to some small child from the Hall and Merry just happened to step on it. LOL Glad you enjoyed this one and thank you for reviewing.
Inkling
· 5 February 2006
· Chapter 44: Frodo's Room
One of the pitfalls of fanfiction is that certain scenes—like Merry’s reaction to Frodo’s departure—have been written so many times, it can be difficult to come up with a fresh approach. You’ve done that very nicely here! Merry’s desire to appropriate Frodo’s room rang very true to me…much like a younger sibling might react when their big brother goes off to college. And I loved how his “big boy” attitude, not wanting Esmeralda to touch him, dissolved into little boy dependence by the end.
Author's reply
Thank you. I sometimes do feel that I am going over ground that so many have already covered very well. It is good to know that you enjoyed my version of this situation. Thank you so much for reviewing.
Bodkin
· 5 February 2006
· Chapter 45: The Importance of Not Being Pippin
Mind you, if anyone can get away with it - it'll be Pippin! Berilac, Merimas and Fredegar, on the other hand, certainly wouldn't!
Author's reply
No, Pippin might live to tell the tale if Merry can get a grip on his temper before he gets to his feet, otherwise I think Pip is in for trouble. Berilac, Merimas and Fredegar wouldn't have stood a chance. LOL