Bodkin
· 4 July 2005
· Chapter 21: Set #2 (featuring the Fellowship) : Who Will Best Serve?
Poor Boromir. Isolated. Desperate. Of course he is most vulnerable to the siren call of the Ring.
I like the solid resistance of the Dwarves. The Ring must have found that very frustrating. And it won't have begun to understand how love could shield people.
Author's reply
Yes, his despair and anger has been fueled by Denethor, and he is yet isolated, for he has not yet had time to form firm ties of love and friendship with the rest of the Fellowship, and by the time that he has, the Ring already had its hooks in him. But I think that those ties *were* what made it possible for him to throw it off at the last--though too late to keep him from falling in the first place.
Aule certainly did make the Dwarves solid, and that built-in resistance to domination had to have been frustrating to an entity whose sole purpose in existing was to dominate, LOL!
No, the Ring never understood love. You will notice that the only time it even mentions the word is in relation to Arwen, where it makes the mistake of thinking that love=wish to possess.
Andrea
· 2 May 2005
· Chapter 14: Far Away
Well, Frodo is as always diplomatic and polite. But I would really like to know what HIS definition of "far away" is.
Pippin's answer was very wise and it's always correct ;-)
Author's reply
Frodo is old enough to know that "far away" is relative; if someone you miss is gone somewhere--it's far away, even though it might be somewhat close in actuality. And if you are well traveled, far away is going to be further off than someone who is a stay at home. For Bilbo, "far away" would be anywhere further off than the Lonely Mountain, while for the Gaffer "far away" could be Tuckborough or Whitfurrows.
Kitty
· 1 May 2005
· Chapter 14: Far Away
*snickers*
Pippin is right, I think. 'Far away' is everywhere where *he* is not ;-)
Author's reply
*sigh* I think you are right. Which makes Middle-earth *ever* so far away from here!
Eruanna
· 1 May 2005
· Chapter 14: Far Away
Ah, a wise answer, Master Peregrin, and very true. :) This is so cute! It really brought a smile to my face.
Blessings,
Eruanna
Author's reply
Thank you so much! It's always nice to hear I've made someone smile! 8-D
marigoldcotton@aol.com
· 1 May 2005
· Chapter 14: Far Away
“I think it’s wherever we *aren’t*!”
That is sooo true! Pippin is very smart : )
Author's reply
That's the kind of wisdom a child will come up with, when they are given a moment to think! I thought perhaps Frodo would encourage him to find his own answer...
Lindelea
· 28 April 2005
· Chapter 13: Bullroarer
Awww. It's the eyelashes, they do it to me every time...
*snork* What a lovely "Just So" story!
Author's reply
I imagine Pippin as a faunt was a deadly weapon: big green eyes, long eyelashes, sweet smile, baby talk, absolute trust--a lethal combination, and I don't much think *anyone* would have been proof against it except *perhaps* his mother!
Eruanna
· 28 April 2005
· Chapter 13: Bullroarer
Oh, this is so adorable! :) I love your observations about why Pippin likes Bilbo's stories. That's so true of small children: you can tell them anything in the world, and provided you use the right voice, they will be utterly fascinated. :)
The story of how the Bullroarer got his name is just grand, and I can almost hear it in Bilbo's voice. And I'm almost certain, now, that Merry is up to something. ;)
Another lovely and well-characterized tale!
Blessings,
Eruanna
Author's reply
Merry was thinking about the stunt they pulled, and possibly wondering if *he* could challenge a bull that way. But Frodo read his mind, and put a stop to it before it hatched, LOL!
I am frustrated with the story right now, because part of it is out of order, and I can't seem to fix it. If I have to take it down to fix, and lose your lovely review, you will understand why. I hope I can fix it without that.
Author Reply: Yay! It's fixed!
Nina the powerwriter
· 19 April 2005
· Chapter 10: A First Time for Everything
Poor Merry! Poor Pip! It had to happen sooner or later. But at least Pip understands why Merry was mad at him.
Author's reply
Yes, it was inevitable that as the cute little faunt grew up into an inquisitive little lad with his own sense of things, he would from time to time make Merry mad at him. But Bilbo, thankfully, explained it so Pip could understand.
Nina the powerwriter
· 19 April 2005
· Chapter 11: Sums, Showers and Scones
Awww...that was cute! I had an idea like that a while back but never wrote it.
Author's reply
You should anyway! Your take on it would be quite different than mine, I am sure, and I'd love to see it.
Andrea
· 17 April 2005
· Chapter 12: Looking Back
I like the idea of Frodo filling in the gap, that Bilbo left when he went away.
Frodo has another talent in common with Bilbo, and that is storytelling. So I can imagine, that after those lovely honeycakes there might be told a story ;-)
Author's reply
I'm sure there would be! Of course Frodo did fill the gap in one way, and yet, not in another, for Frodo had his *own* place to fill in their lives.
trishette
· 16 April 2005
· Chapter 12: Looking Back
Oh, I like these little ficcies? Please, do write more! The fluff is awesome =o)
Author's reply
Well, I had 20 themes to start, and this one was number 12, so I've eight more to go with the young hobbits. Then I have 20 different themes to do with the Fellowship, which may not all be quite so fluffy, but there will be forty stories in this grouping when I am finished.
Marigold
· 16 April 2005
· Chapter 12: Looking Back
Oh, very nice! I love these little glimpses of the lads. I think that you should write at least one per day!
I especially liked the bit about the Gaffer - it's so obvious that his bark is worse than his bite - and of course the reference to our story, and the bit about the curling papers (I think that Pippin might remember that and use it someday) and that Frodo was becoming Bilbo in a way, by making honeycakes for his young guests.
Write more!
Author's reply
Oh, I will! Trust me! I can't tonight--Jim and I have traded computers for the evening, and I don't have any story files on his. I don't go in to work tomorrow until noon, though, so I might get a bit done.
I'm glad you liked this one. When I thought of Pippin and Merry waxing nostalgic, I thought that visit of the Dwarves had to be one of the highlights of their young lives. And I think you are right about the Gaffer.
Yes, Frodo in some ways has taken on Bilbo's position--he's the Master of Bag End now, after all. I thought the honeycakes would be a symbolic way to show that.
Baggins Babe
· 11 April 2005
· Chapter 11: Sums, Showers and Scones
Oh how lovely! Hobbits in the kitchen - I love this. I love to read stories about them just messing about and being hobbity, and you have really captured our favourite hobbits in their exuberant youth. Wish I could be there with them.
Thank you, Dreamflower!
Author's reply
I, too, love hobbits in the kitchen, as you can probably guess from most of my stories, LOL! And I will take any excuse I can get for recipe!fic. *grin*
I like that phrase: "exuberant youth". They *are* young in these pieces, and just enjoying being young and being friends and taking care of one another. Thank *you* for the lovely review!
GamgeeFest
· 10 April 2005
· Chapter 9: Clear Night
Wonderful explanation of how the stars came to be. I loved Gandalf's easy manner with the hobbits as he told the story.
Author's reply
Thank you.
It's a very over-simplified version of what JRRT gives us in the Silm; it's obviously somewhat abridged for children's understanding, but I tried to keep it to what JRRT had said.
I always think that Gandalf was almost like a grandfatherly figure to the younger hobbits. Hobbits had a combination of affection and cheekiness towards him, as well as a totally off-kilter understanding of his wizardly powers--attributing to him basically omniscience, as well as being able to turn people into "something unnatural", yet all they ever usually saw of his powers were his fireworks, LOL! And he clearly loved them dearly.
Andrea
· 10 April 2005
· Chapter 10: A First Time for Everything
Dreamflower, you are amazing! Every little story here is very special.
Beeing myself not so very comfortable with heights, I can understand Merry. But he *is* a very brave hobbit. He only has to realize it!
I liked the idea of the two Bagginses splitting up to comfort their younger cousins. And I always love it when Frodo calls Merry "sprout" :)
Author's reply
Why thank you very much! *blushes*
Poor Merry is still young enough that he equates "brave" with "not ever being afraid"--he will eventually come to understand.
It made sense to me that Bilbo would handle little Pip, while Frodo, who is basically Merry's "big brother" would comfort Merry.
I came up with "sprout" as Frodo's special baby-name for Merry when I wrote "A Place for Gandalf". Only Frodo calls him that, and he never calls any of his other younger cousins or friends that; he used it for Merry occasionally all the way up until Merry entered his tweens, although not so often as he got older.
Marigold
· 8 April 2005
· Chapter 8: First Lessons
These are lovely! Each one is just perfect for the little hobbit involved, and so is Frodo's understanding of them as individuals : )
Author's reply
Thanks. I tried to choose each lesson as something special that I was sure Frodo would have taught that particular youngster, whatever else he taught them.
Andrea
· 8 April 2005
· Chapter 8: First Lessons
"A lapful of green-eyed Took" - that's the cutest description of Pippin I've ever heard! Well done, thank you!
Author's reply
Just seemed the right way to describe wee!Pip. *grin*
Grey Wonderer
· 6 April 2005
· Chapter 7: Running
I could see Merry and Pippin running with the Orcs at the end of this and all you had to say was, "One day, some day, running will be a thing to do for survival." That worked very well. I admire how you can do all of that in so short a story.
Author's reply
Thank you! I, too, was envisioning the two running from the Orcs, and also envisioning Sam and Frodo running from Shelob, and then having to run to keep up with the Orcs when they were in their disguise. Not to mention all the running they had to do in Moria.
I thought drabbles would be really hard, until I tried them. In some ways they are, but in some ways they are very freeing, as there's no need to worry about a plot in a drabble.
Lindelea
· 4 April 2005
· Chapter 7: Running
Oh, yes. Good use of repetition, finely crafted, tying in with the original at the end (which is rather where I thought you might be going with this--nicely done!)
Author's reply
Thank you! I was a little hesitant with this one--it's not my usual style. I'm glad that you think it succeeded!
GamgeeFest
· 3 April 2005
· Chapter 5: The Hard Things About Waiting
Poor Sam, always in fear his Frodo won't return. And Pippin's was funny. I'm sure everyone was always glad to see Merry and Frodo arrive, lol.
Author's reply
I could imagine that everytime Frodo went to visit his family elsewhere, it must have worried Sam, knowing as he did how Frodo missed Merry.
I figured a bored Pippin pining for Merry and Frodo would have been a menace--and we *know* what kinds of trouble boredom landed him in when he got a bit older, LOL!
GamgeeFest
· 3 April 2005
· Chapter 4: A Sticky Situation
And there Pippin is, getting into trouble. Good ole Gaffer and Sam, they always come through in a pinch. And I loved Eglatine's assumption on what caused the smell in Pip's hair. If only she knew the truth, she'd probably get a laugh out of it, since Pip still has his hair.
Author's reply
Probably, since they got the sap out, as well. But Merry's not taking any chances. He's waited too long for his Pip to get "big enough" to visit by himself.
GamgeeFest
· 3 April 2005
· Chapter 2: Playing at Stones
Ah, how cute! Baby Pippin is always adorable and he shows the signs already of his trouble making ways.
Author's reply
And nimble fingers, too! *grin*
GamgeeFest
· 3 April 2005
· Chapter 1: Set # 1(featuring young pre-Quest Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin (Now complete): Cloudwatching
Is there anything that doesn't remind Pippin of food? lol. Very cute.
Author's reply
Very little, I would suppose--especially at *that* age, LOL!
Baggins Babe
· 3 April 2005
· Chapter 6: Cousins and Caterpillars
This was lovely! I do enjoy reading (and writing) about happy hobbits, and I love reading about our lads when they were young.
Thank you for providing such a lovely start to my day.
Author's reply
I'm so glad that it was a nice morning for you! I am having a good deal of fun with this set of themes. I don't doubt that a few of them may turn out to be a bit angsty, but most of them seem to lend themselves to lovely wee!hobbit fluff!
Grey Wonderer
· 2 April 2005
· Chapter 6: Cousins and Caterpillars
I enjoyed Frodo's story very much. The Bagginses do have a way with a good tale, don't they? This was cute. I look forward to more.
Author's reply
Thanks. I thought it might be the sort of "off-the-cuff" story that Frodo might be inspired to tell, after watching the caterpillar hatch.