Dreamflower's Mathoms II by Dreamflower
PIppinfan1988 · 30 March 2008 · Chapter 27: Pippin and the Mask
Awwwww! Pippin is just tooooo cuuute here, lol! Makes *me* want to tickle his ears. :-P You paint such a sweet picture of the three cousins!
Author's reply
I was afraid it might be "too cute" in a bad way, but everyone seemed to like it! I love the three of them together, I truly do!
PIppinfan1988 · 30 March 2008 · Chapter 5: A Time for Planting
"A Time for Planting"...I've really been in the mood for something "spring-ish" and this was absolutely perfect. I'm living "vicariously" through tales at the moment, as NE Ohio is two weeks behind the eight-ball with regard to spring. :-) I just adore hobbit father-son stories; Sam and little Frodo-lad are a beautiful example of such tales. Well done!
Author's reply
I've got some nice little seedlings in the window--just waiting till the weekend, so I can get some more dirt for the garden to set them out: tomatoes, bush beans, cucumbers, rosemary, dill, basil... I love to show Sam and Frodo-lad together!
Golden · 23 February 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
I enjoyed the story very much and simply loved the character of Rusty! Very well done! :)
Author's reply
I'm glad you like Rusty. She's one of my favorite OCs!
Baggins Babe · 4 February 2008 · Chapter 46: Rainy Day at Whitwell
Hmm. I think I'd like blackberry pie too. This was lovely and no wonder the children love Tip and Tulip stories. Esme was very clever to keep the children entertained. Pervinca was priceless - so typical of small children. Lovely, Dreamflower!
Author's reply
Esme knew a story would fill the bill nicely with bored and quarrelsome children stuck indoors by rain! Yes, she's just a wee mite of a thing in this, but she knows her own mind!
harrowcat · 2 February 2008 · Chapter 45: Ripples of Fear
Cherry tarts hmm...I wonder if they will save me some too! The unknown always holds the most to be frightened of as i am finding.
Author's reply
Just found this, and realized I'd not replied! Cherry tarts are lovely; wouldn't mind sharing either! Yes, Pippin's going out into the great unknown, and now he realizes just *how* unknown it really is!
harrowcat · 2 February 2008 · Chapter 46: Rainy Day at Whitwell
Well done Esme - a nice little tale of Summer days is just the thing to encourage the sunshine.
Author's reply
*grin* And I can imagine some little hobbits clamoring to go berrying, now that the sun is out!
Larner · 1 February 2008 · Chapter 46: Rainy Day at Whitwell
Ah, a typical children's story for Hobbitlings! Heh! And the rainbow must have been glorious.
Author's reply
Yes, just the sort of thing a little hobbit would like. I just thought they all deserved a rainbow after being cooped up inside all day.
Andrea · 1 February 2008 · Chapter 46: Rainy Day at Whitwell
Very nice! I like "Tip and Tulip" stories :) They are the kind of stories little children love! I know a little girl who would like them, too. In fact I heard her daddy telling her a story that was very similar. It was about a little girl who bravely fought a cold and took all the medicine that was given her, and then she was healthy and happy again :)
Author's reply
They are the sort of simple thing the very young ones like. They like them because the Adventures are close to home, and end with love and cuddles. And adults like them because they convey a moral. That sounds like a *Very Useful Sort of Story*, as Miss Dora might say. *grin*
Lindelea · 31 January 2008 · Chapter 46: Rainy Day at Whitwell
Such a lovely story! So very hobbity, with all the food and homely things and brave young hobbits. I can somehow believe that young Merry would be hard on his clothes, and that Frodo would keep the young ones spellbound with stories, and that Vinca would know the Rules for Tots... (You know, "1. If I like it, it's mine. 2. If it's in my hand, it's mine. 3. If I can take it from you, it's mine. 4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine. 5. If it's mine, it must NEVER appear to be yours in anyway. 6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine. 7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine. 8. If I saw it first, it's mine. 9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine. 10. If it's broken, it's yours.")
Author's reply
Thanks! LOL! I haven't seen that one in a while--it's as funny and true as ever!
PIppinfan1988 · 31 January 2008 · Chapter 46: Rainy Day at Whitwell
I like Tip and Tulip, too! What a lovely story! It really is hard on young children to stay cooped up for too long. Loved the glimpse of family life there at Whitwell, too. Now I'm having a hankering for a bit of my blackberry jam. :-)
Author's reply
I'm so glad you liked "Tip and Tulip's" little adventure. I hope it came across as cozy and old-fashioned. It *is* hard for young ones to be cooped up on a rainy day--especially if the rain spoils other plans. *grin*
shirebound · 31 January 2008 · Chapter 46: Rainy Day at Whitwell
What an adorable story! Full of food and love, and lessons about wee hobbits helping with household chores. I just love it.
Author's reply
Thank you, dear! I wanted it to be the sort of old-fashioned story that used to be told to very young children, like "Peter Rabbit"--in which the danger is child-sized, yet real, and the setting is domestic and loving and cozy. That's the sort of stories that I want "Tip and Tulip" star in!
Edlyn · 29 January 2008 · Chapter 45: Ripples of Fear
This was beautifully done! I love stories about Pippin and Boromir and this was perfect. I'd be scared out of my wits if I were in Pippin's shoes and the fact that he is more afraid of being separated from the people he loves than actually going o nthe quest really speaks of his greatness of heart. And of course, Boromir's greatness of heart shines through in his understanding of Pippin's situation. Lovely, lovely work!
Author's reply
Pippin does very much have a great heart, and he will be getting a chance to prove it to himself and others as the journey continues. And Boromir has seen enough of people in dangerous situations to be a good judge of what bravery truly is! I'm so glad that you liked this! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
Larner · 28 January 2008 · Chapter 45: Ripples of Fear
Now, if I had the chance to get a cherry tart I think I'd go back, too! Heh! Yes, he has reason to be fearful, but perseveres anyway.
Author's reply
Hobbits will be hobbits! (And I'm rather fond of cherry tarts, too!) That's the thing about our lads--they are driven by their love and loyalty to one another, and however much they may fear the danger of the journey for themselves, they fear for their loved ones far more. And as long as they are motivated by that love, they will *always* persevere!
PIppinfan1988 · 25 January 2008 · Chapter 44: Four Dances with the Bride
Hello!! Let the reading begin, lol! Rusty has grown into a fine young lady and glowing bride. :-) She certainly married well -- with regard to family and cousins, that is. I would like to see more of her in your future stories. :-)
Author's reply
I think she married pretty well. One of the few things I knew about the grown-up Rusty when I first wrote her as a child, was that she would end up married to a Took--but *never* with her buddy Pippin! She may or may not pop up again; you know how bunnies are...
Larner · 24 January 2008 · Chapter 44: Four Dances with the Bride
The dances are all so wonderful, and the final question so on the mark. If folks had been nicer to Lotho, how would he have been himself over time? Or would he have been basically the same? Unfortunately, I suspect yes, and he'd have looked on courtesy as a sign of weakness.
Author's reply
I suspect that you are quite right. Yet for people of such generous and compassionate natures as Pippin (and Rusty) the question is still going to make them wonder if they could only have done something differently, might it have helped.
PIppinfan1988 · 22 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Lockholes stories are always so sad...but good, too, and this one was fantastic. Very realistic. You know I'm a fan of your O.C. Rusty, so I thoroughly enjoyed this. I hope there's more...right?
Author's reply
Well, there wasn't *going* to be, but thanks to Dana, expect a little bit more very soon!
Baggins Babe · 19 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
I loved Rust in the other stories and I'm glad to find out what happened to her. No, she would not have been content to sit at home and do nothing. And now she is going to join the Tooks in marriage.......? Wonderful!!
Author's reply
She most certainly would not! And now she'll be one of Pippin's cousins--by marriage.
Grey Wonderer · 19 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Bravo! Romance, adventure and rescues. I liked it very much. Love the nickname, Buttons. And a very hobbit-like story behind it all as well. Good of you to put in a conversation between just Sam and Pippin. Those two don't wind up together often enough. There should be more of them. Lovely story and I'm so very glad that Rusty didn't come to a bad end.
Author's reply
*Grin* "Romance, adventure and rescues"--perfect description! I wanted Isembold to have a nickname--both the first and second half of his name are repeated so many times on the family tree, that he really needed a nickname--and "Buttons" just came to me! I really like Sam and Pippin moments. There just aren't enough of those. I couldn't let Rusty have a bad end--I'd known for a long time that she would end up marrying a Took, though it took me a while to figure out who and how.
cathleen · 19 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Oh, I loved this! What a neat idea to see what happened to some of your characters since their childhood. And I like Rusty here as much as I did in the first story. Love a happy ending too, happy sigh.....
Author's reply
I'm so glad that you like how things turned out for Rusty. We may see her again from time to time.
Lindelea · 19 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Awww. Sounds as if that Dana is a good influence. The more (hobbits) the merrier! G'night. This was a good one to cap off the day.
Author's reply
Dana's a major influencer, anyway! *grin* We had a blast! And oh, did we make hobbits! Glad you enjoyed!
harrowcat · 18 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
I am glad that you tell us about the children. Poor Rusty - get better soon! But the love of a good hobbit will certainly help a lot.
Author's reply
She will soon be put right, with proper hobbity meals and TLC from her family and friends! And I think she and Isembold will be making a wonderful life together.
Andrea · 18 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Thank you! Finally we get to know how Rusty fared during the Times of Trouble! I could not have imagined her sitting there and weaving, either. It's just like her to help wherever she could, like the other lads ;-) It's no wonder that Pippin is reminded of the quest when he listens to her story. There are lots of parallels and Pippin and Rusty were like siblings (or better: "brothers") as children. Like the others travellers Pippin has to make the painful experience that the Shire of his childhood no longer exists. The place has changend and the people. But now it's time for a new beginning, for the Shire, for Pippin and for Rusty and Isembold! I wish the groom and bride all the best :) Last but not least, I just loved this line: He was beginning to develop an understanding of what it must have meant for Aragorn and Boromir and Faramir having to be captains of Men. There was always someone who needed to be told what to do. I think, he's a wonderful captain!
Author's reply
Well, it's sort of untold, but during her time with her Aunt Jasper, Rusty learned not to hate wearing dresses (especially if she could weave the fabric to suit herself!) and to enjoy spinning and weaving, but she never forgot, either that she could do anything the lads did, as well! And she would never sit by and do nothing when the Ruffians came in! I think that right after the Scouring, a lot of what had happened would remind Pippin and the other Travellers of what they had already been through Outside. Pippin and Rusty were truly friends from the start, with their similar sense of humor and mischief. Pippin learned from the best, while he was gone--his observations of Aragorn, Boromir and Faramir would have impressed themselves on him deeply!
AspenJules · 18 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Oh, this was nice, sort of. Only sort of because the atmosphere of the post-scouring was grimly realistic, and that's a bit hard to take. But I loved the glimpse of Captain Peregrin, and how much he was able to relate to things because of his own 'adventures.' I especially liked the touch of comparing Rusty's having to leave the children behind and worrrying about them with his being carried away from Frodo and Sam by the Uruk-Hai. And of course, I love Rusty. So good to see her again, and hear what she was up to. Of course she would have been involved in the Rebellion. She just makes me grin. And I'll bet she was happier (less upset?) in the Lockholes with the boys than in with the lasses too, LOL.
Author's reply
I know what you mean about "sort of"--after the Scouring had to be a really difficult time for all involved! I felt there would be a lot of parallelism for Pippin, as he works to incorporate the things he *learned* on the Quest to his situation at home, it would bring back memories of that time. He knows that all of the things he (and the others) have been able to accomplish was due to what they all went through--and he sees the other hobbits of the Shire have gone through similar experiences, though on a lesser scale. I've always had fun writing Rusty--this time wasn't exactly fun and games, but, like you, I could not imagine her simply sitting around weaving when there was trouble afoot.
Larner · 18 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Ah! Hooray!! Hooray for both Rusty and Isembold, and the work they did together. A wonderful tale indeed! Excellent adventure.
Author's reply
Thank you, Larner! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
elanor winterflowers · 17 January 2008 · Chapter 43: Whatever Happened to Rusty Cotton?
Well, I guess I've come in in the middle of Rusty's story, but I didn't feel at all lost, and I liked Rusty immensely! I'm glad she survived the Lockholes and I look forward to learning more about her. This has lots of post-Troubles atmosphere, shock and tiredness and grim determination. It felt quite right, like the aftermath of hard times.
Author's reply
I'm glad you didn't feel lost, though you'd not met Rusty before. She made her first appearance in the flashback sequences of "Pippin the Protector" and then a second appearance in "A Sight to Remember", and she's been mentioned briefly in one or two other stories. Briefly, she is the older daughter of Tolman Cotton's brother Wilcome, and she's about the same age as Pippin. They both seem to enjoy the same sorts of mischief. Dana's influenced me a good deal about the Troubles, as you may have guessed. It's certain that right after the Scouring would not have been an easy time for any in the Shire.