High day entertainment! Frodo is a sneaky hobbit at times - it should never be overlooked that he is senior cousin to Merry and Pippin. I don't think Boromir knows quite what he has got himself into yet.
And I love the comparison of feet. With Gimli's being almost hairy enough to pass muster. Boromir was quite offended at the criticism of his appendages - how sweet. He's used to being told he's handsome, I suspect, and finds it hard to have hobbits looking on him as a freak-show. And getting Gandalf and Elrond to play!
Yes, hobbits have unsuspected talents.
Author's reply
Frodo is so seemingly innocent, with those big blue eyes of his. It's easy to forget that Frodo taught Merry everything he knows. Boromir didn't see it coming, especially after Frodo came to his rescue earlier. He never would have suspected that Frodo was just laying the groundwork, so to speak. Boromir won't be so easily fooled next time.
It all comes down to the feet in the end. :D Hobbits know the true way to judge a person's abilities! Gimli's feet proved Pippin's theory wrong, much to Merry's relief. hehe I thought that Boromir would be rather put off by someone thinking him inadequate in any way. He's the golden child of his city after all and isn't used to having people think he's not perfect.
Hobbits are amazing creatures. ;)
Thank you Quendria! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
Andrea
· 12 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
Frodo placed a hand on Pippin’s shoulder and gave his cousin a consoling look. “Now Pippin, don’t be rude. Clearly, Boromir feels inadequate about his feet and doesn’t want us to see them. Let’s show some respect.”
LOL!!! Cheeky hobbit! But very clever I must say, really clever! And he did it again with Gandalf and the elves. Just wonderful!
This story gets better and better. I admire Boromir's patience, mine would have ceased much earlier during that conversation, I fear ;-)
BTW, I love Pippin's nickname for Merry: Mer-Bear. That's great :)
Author's reply
LOL. I think Gandalf and the elves were more humoring the hobbits than anything else. Gandalf knew that they would only pester him endlessly until he gave in anyway. :) But yes, Frodo can be rather cheeky when he's of the mind, and there's no questioning his cleverness. He didn't get the title as the worst rascal in Buckland for nothing.
Boromir loves the hobbits, he really does. In a way, they remind him of himself and Faramir when they were younger, and how carefree their relationship could have been if not for their overlording father. Seeing how protective the hobbits are of each other will only make him appreciate them more. After all, he only went to Rivendell to spare his brother from making the trek. He can more than relate to why the hobbits want to accompany Frodo on such a dangerous mission.
Mer-Bear makes a come back in this story. You might not remember, but it was mentioned first in "Under the Harvest Moon". I figured that Pippin would be feeling rather vulnerable during the trek to Rivendell and he would revert back to earlier childhood tendencies in some ways, such as thinking of Merry as his Mer-Bear. :)
XtremeFrolicker
· 12 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
Wow..this has to be the best story idea ever! I love it. SO I have a question: Why do the hobbits need to be so silent when they move? It's seems like some sort of adaptation, but what is it for? Do you think you could possibly work that in? Have fun housesitting!
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!! You know the whole foot thing was going to come up sooner or later. It only took Boromir drilling them about their footwork for the whole truth to come spilling out. :)
Good questions! I don't think they try to be silent. They just are. I'll see what I can do with that. :)
Dreamflower
· 11 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
Sorry I messed up my first review! 8-(
I just had to tell you how wonderful this chapter is, from the opening, with the account of how the hobbits spent their days, and the description of their games--clever Boromir, to observe them and get an idea of their abilities to the ending.
Some bits I especially love:
-Pippin's first question: "When do we eat?"
-The description of their lessons and their abilities. One little throwaway thing you had, I just loved. After Boromir was completely thrown off track by the discusion of "Highday", Merry's perfect memory supplies him with the exact phrase with which he left off, LOL!
-Boromir's careful and complete instructions; you clearly made excellent use of resources for this chapter!
-Pippin's constant interruptions, and Boromir's fruitless attempts to deal with it. And then the dam burst indeed! I was ROTFL, to the point that the DH in the other room wanted to know if anything was *wrong*! I was just howling.
I especially loved the way clever Frodo manipulated Boromir into going along with their curiousity about *his* feet. And there *your* cleverness kicked in, for you used the hobbit's questions about the feet of Men, Dwarves and Elves to answer all those pesky questions about *hobbit feet*! Sneaky! And very well done!
I'm not going to try and quote any bits, though. I don't want a repeat of last night. *grin*
Author's reply
Now you have me curious which parts you would have quoted! But I understand not wanting to tempt fate again. =D
I wasn't so sure about that opening and almost deleted it, but then it would have messed up the segue into Boromir's observations and training. I was rather stuck with it, so I'm glad you liked it! I was actually unsure of a lot of this chapter. It's the first time I've attempted to get into the hobbits' training sessions and fighting tactics. Thanks again for the websites. I'll have to dig through that first one a bit more. I really only had time to breeze through it before.
LOL! Of course that would be the first question out of Pippin's mouth! He knows what's *really* important. The whole dam analogy came as I was writing and it does rather perfectly describe that aspect of Pippin, doesn't it? Boromir would do well to heed their warnings. Either that, or get a life preserver. :)
Thank goodness for Merry (and the ability to scroll up on Word Doc) because I rather forgot what Boromir was talking about too! I just had to make that part of the story. :D
That was rather wishful thinking on Boromir's part to hope that Pippin would forget all his questions by making him wait until the end of the sessions. If Boromir learned anything from this (other than his feet are inadequate and in desperate need oxygen) it's that Pippin's seeming lack of attention doesn't mean he can't retain things.
Frodo's rascally ways shine through here. Every now and then, he likes to remind people just how he earned his title as the worst rascal in Buckland. :)
hehe When you learn about others, you learn about yourself. :D The hobbits' insistance that there must be something wrong with Boromir's feet - despite his constant denials that there isn't - emphasizes not only how much more sturdy the hobbits' feet are but how much they take for granted their own feet. I could just see their faces when Boromir informed them he never had foot hair. Now *there's* something that *never* would have occured to them otherwise.
Thanks for the review(s)! ;)
EstellaB
· 11 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
Poor old Sam... Stuck in Rivendell with three hobbits who love to make mischief...four counting Bilbo!
Author's reply
LOL! Poor Sam indeed. He doesn't mind a little bit of teasing now and then, and he was willing to go along with conning Boromir because he was rather curious himself, but his adoration of the elves just won't allow him to be comfortable while the others are trying to trick them. He may have to seek refuge in the stables with Bill the Pony. :)
Elemmírë
· 11 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
Sorry if this seems kind of random, but I'm reviewing as I'm reading.
'Foot Notes' HeHe
>>There was no doubt that the hobbits brought much cheer and mirth wherever they went.<<
Why of course, that's what hobbits do. :D
That Pippin, always thinking with his stomach.
Mer-Bear? Too cute!!
You did good research with Boromir's battle tactics for hobbits. This reminded me in part of the semester of fencing I once took in college a few years ago.
How sweet of the hobbits to worry that Boromir doesn't get enough to eat.
It must be sad though, for Gandalf and Bilbo, to see these gentle hobbits being trained as such with swords, even if it is primarily for their own safety.
Smartypants Frodo is a sly little hobbit, getting Boromir and Gimli to take off their boots ... and everyone else too!!
I feel sorry for poor Boromir ... suffering through Pippish and having inadequate feet compared to his pupils'.
>>That would look odd,” Merry confirmed. “Why don’t you take off your boots, Boromir? Then we can see for ourselves if they’re deficient or not.” <<
LOL!!
>>“Now Pippin, don’t be rude. Clearly, Boromir feels inadequate about his feet and doesn’t want us to see them. Let’s show some respect.”<<
ROTFL!!!
Love Sam's comment about the aroma of Gimli's feet. And his incessant worrying that Boromir's feet would blister at any given time.
Oh my goodness! Insulting Lord Elrond by implying his toes are mangled and then Frodo's comment about Gandalf's ancient feet! I'm being looked at like I'm crazy by my family because you have me laughing so hard.
I can't wait for the next part.
My question for the hobbits: Why are hobbits so obsessed with geneaology to the extent that they are? Why do they feel the need to know who their third cousin, five-times removed is?
Author's reply
I love "reviews-as-you-go". :) hehe The original title was "There Be Games Afoot". I think you can see why I changed it! ;)
Pippin knows what's most important in life - rum cake! Er, I mean, mealtimes. ;) His childhood nickname for Merry - Mer-Bear - has been mentioned in previous stories of mine and I thought it would be fitting to bring it back here. Pippin have would be feeling more than a bit vulnerable during the journey from the Shire to Rivendell, and it would have brought out those more childlike tendencies.
I'm glad my research sounds credible! I was so worried about that. I've never attempted to get into the training or fighting tactics of the hobbits before, mostly because I don't like to think of them with weapons. It is sad that such loveable, innocent, fun-loving creatures have to learn warfare. It's a good thing that they did though, or things would have gone much worse for everyone.
Yes, Frodo is quite the scamp when he puts his mind to it. There's a reason why he used to be considered the worst young rascal in Buckland. Even though he's now so mature and responsible, I like to let him have fun and show the others just what he's capable of from time to time. One should never underestimate that Baggins!
Boromir is going to have a rough time of it with the hobbits and all their questions. He's starting to learn though. He did go along with Pippin's assumption that lack of hair on the feet means more hair on the face, rather than ask for further clarification. Besides, he secretly loves the teasing and banter of the hobbits. Had things not gone as they had, I think they would have made a 'hobbit' of him yet. :)
Sam is such a dear. He would constantly worry about the safety of Boromir's feet, exposed to the elements as they were. :) Considering that the hobbits have such a strong sense of smell, I'm surprised the smell of Gimli's feet didn't knock them out!
And it turns out that Gandalf's feet were rather ancient-looking! So Frodo wasn't too far off on that count. Pippin really does have no shame, and neither do Merry and Frodo, come to think of it. Poor Sam, having to put up with them and their schemes!
As for the genealogy question, that's already covered in my other story "It's All Relative", which is followed up by "A Humble Gift". But I'll see if I can work out another story along those lines. :)
Thanks for reading and for all the wonderful comments!
harrowcat
· 11 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
Oh this is priceless GF. I was giggling out loud from start to finish. Pippin as a pent up dam and conning even Gandalf out of his boots! Enjoy the house sitting.
Author's reply
Thanks, harrowcat! Pippin is quite the irrepressible Took, isn't he? He wouldn't have survived the entire session with all those foot questions and Boromir drilling them about their footwork! hehe Gandalf rather humored the hobbits. He knew they would only pester him mercilessly until he gave in. :)
Simply brilliant! I laughed all the way through it!
Author's reply
Thank you! I was a bit nervous about this one, what with it being so long and all. I'm glad you enjoyed it and that it made you laugh. :)
Lynn H
· 10 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
I laughed wonderfully! Surely GANDALF wouldn't have been taken in?! Poor Pippen with no dessert!?
One question - everyone has been making a point about alcohol having little or no effect on Hobbits. Also, we know it takes a really strong drink to affect an Elf.
Well, I'm a real baker, and I KNOW the alcohol in that rum would have all evaporated. Rum isn't all alcohol, which is why there is flavor and liquid remaining. But if you want any alcohol in a booze cake you add it after baking, usually by freezing the cake and poking holes in it with an icepick. Another method is to use the drink for the liquid in jello (the elves would use agar for the gelling agent), again poke the cake, pour the gel mix in, and then chill it so the gel sets up before frosting. So, the Dwarf cake MUST be a 'poke cake'. It would be loaded for the men and potent for elves, but not too effective on Hobbits. Maybe Pippen is somewhat sensitive because he IS still a Tween?
Author's reply
Thanks so much for the valuable info on the rum cake! I admit ignorance to anything and everything involving alcohol, so any advice on that count is much appreciated. Gloin must have baked a 'poke cake' then. I'll amend that chapter when I get a chance. :D
Gandalf, Elrond and Erestor were humoring the hobbits. If anything, they knew it would be easier to give in then than to be pestered by them endlessly. Pippin would have found some way to get dessert, or double up on the following night. :)
Hm... I'm not so sure about the whole subject of the effect of alcohol on elves and hobbits. I know the popular theory is that alcohol doesn't affect elves very much, if at all. As far as hobbits, mine have always been able to get drunk with about the same amount of intake as a Man, so while they can drink *more* before being effected, but they *do* get effected. Since they like to drink as much as they eat, drunk hobbits are a regular occurence. I think it all just depends on the writer. :) Plus, Pippin did have six slices of that cake, while the others likely only had a slice or two.
Starfire_Moonlight
· 10 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
'“Do your feet suffocate in your boots? Why do you wear boots? Is something wrong with your feet? Is that why they don’t suffocate, because they don’t work right to begin with? Does it hurt to walk on them? Do the boots help to make it not hurt so much? Is that why you make so much noise when you walk, because your feet don’t work right, or is it the boots, or both, and if it is the boots, do you wear them in combat? How can you sneak up on someone making such a racket?” Pippin shot off the questions in such quick succession that Boromir only understood every other word.'
Oh my goodness! One question falling right after another! I got a question for the hobbits! Why don't they like boats?
Author's reply
Pippin does have a way of peppering people with questions. He might start off with one or two, but once he gets started, there's just no stopping them sometimes!
I added your boat question to the list! Thanks for reading. :)
shirebound
· 10 July 2006
· Chapter 3: Foot Notes
“Are you enjoying yourselves this fine morning?” Elrond asked his guests, not missing the way the hobbits’ lowered their gaze to watch his feet as he approached.
Pippin beamed up at them shamelessly, and Gandalf could all but smell the mischief pouring off of him and his cohorts.
Omigosh, what a barrage of inquisitive hobbit mischief! Rivendell, its inhabitants, and guests will never be the same. What a delightful story.
Author's reply
I think some of the elves will be breathing big sighs of relief when the hobbits leave. ;) If they thought these four would be like Bilbo, they were wrong!
Thanks for reading!!
Antane
· 9 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
Cute story! I also read the story on westofthemoon about Frodo-lad asking his father why he never said his name and thought I would find here but didn't, at least not as a separate story so I though I would take this moment to comment about it here. I liked it. One forgets sometimes that Frodo wouldn't have been the only one to suffer from nightmares and flashbacks and such. My very favorite part is Rose's wisdom about whether Sam loved her or Frodo more - like asking whether you liked breathing in or breathing out more - great explanation for the two loves that were different but equally fierce.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed both stories. :)
"By Any Other Name" is here on this site. It's in my Keepsakes, where I keep my smaller stories. I think all of the hobbits would have had their share of nightmares and flashbacks. Hobbits aren't warlike, and what they experienced during the Quest was far removed from anything they could have imagined or anticipated. Once the danger was over, their minds would have caught up with the terror they had been through and the nightmares would have started.
Rose is a smart lass. There was a reason she and Sam were destined to be together. I don't think any other lass would have understood the bond that Sam and Frodo shared, and others might have even been jealous of it. But not Rose. She never would have fathomed attempting to make Sam choose between them.
Bodkin
· 7 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
Very bold of Gimli to put his oar in! He should have been listening to his father's advice. He'll know better in the future.
Merry and Pippin seem to have had plenty of experience of dish-washing. Sam, of course, will have done it automatically on any occasion when the young masters weren't condemned to being useful. I like Boromir's reaction! And would love to hear just why he spent days polishing swords.
I hope we get to see Boromir's bemusement with hobbits when he is trying to train them in swordshobbitship. Although swords hardly compete with full plates when it comes to being hobbity.
Author's reply
Gimli just couldn't help himself. It's like when you drive past a horrible accident on the freeway - you don't want to look but you just can't stop yourself. Now that his curiosity has been satisfied, he won't be so quick to encourage the hobbits in the future. :D
Merry and Pippin combined must hold the record for the most dish-washing punishments. They're probably also, as a result, champion dish-washers. If that's a contest during their various fairs and festivals, they'll likely win every time. hehehe Boromir hasn't shared the full story yet, but I think I can piece enough together to figure out why he had to polish those swords. =)
We'll get to see a little bit of Boromir's attempts to teach the hobbits swordsmanship in the next chapter, which should be as informative for the hobbits as it is for everyone else. :)
XtremeFrolicker
· 6 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
Haha thank you so much for writing this...I've often wondered myself what the deal was with all of their meals. Once again, I love the way that you manage to capture all of the characters EXACTLY as I imagine them myself. Keep on writing!
Author's reply
Yes, it's good to know that at least two of those meals are really just 'snacks'. :D I love it when my characters ring true to other readers.
Thanks for the review!
EstellaB
· 6 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
“The time you broke your arm and the time I left you stranded at Milo’s house, so really, in a way, those were your fault,” Frodo said.
I would *love* to read about these Incidents. Have you written about them anywhere?
Author's reply
One day, I do plan to write the stories behind these ancedotes. Perhaps when I swing back into angst mood, I'll be ready to tackle them. :) As of now, they're only mentioned, though in rather full detail, in the stories mentioned in my author note at the beginning of the chapter. :)
Pearl Took
· 5 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
“Oh Merry, it was so awful,” Pippin said. “There was this chicken but it was really Isumbras the Third, and he had your arm in his beak and he was making you wash dishes with mud, and... and... and he took away second breakfast!”
“How much of that rum cake did you eat, Pippin?” Merry asked.
“Six slices.”
“Good night Pip,” Merry said and went back to his slumber.
LOL LOL LOL
Bravo, GamgeeFest! Bravo!
And I loved your history of hobbit meals :)
Author's reply
hehehe Yep, hobbits and dwarvish cooking just don't mix. Merry, Frodo and Sam had the sense to keep the cake intake to a minimum, but not Pippin. Let's see if he learned his lesson, hm? ;)
Believe it or not, that was the abridged version of the history of mealtimes. :) Merry could have gone on much longer.
Thanks for reading!
Andrea
· 5 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
How are ice and mud the same thing?” Frodo laughed.
“Because…” Merry stalled, searching for an answer. “Ice is on the ground and when it melts it makes mud.”
“What?!” Frodo exclaimed, as Pippin broke into uncontrollable giggles, and Bilbo and Sam laughed. “Now you’re starting to sound like Pippin.”
“Hey!” Pippin said.
LOL!!! Wonderful, GamgeeFest!
I don't know why Gloin was so afraid of listening to the history of hobbit meals. I found it very interesting and not at all boring.
Actually, I have second breakfast every working day, first breakfast at home and second at work. But these are only snacks and nothing compared to the amount of food hobbits eat on such an occasion. But I agree, second breakfast is a real good thing. When I'm on holiday, I usually take only second breakfast ;-)
I'm looking forward to reading more!
Author's reply
Merry does sometimes slip into talking Pippish, especially when he's flustered. :D
I tend to think of the dwarves as being just a tad bit pompous and ego-centric. They'd rather hear and talk about themselves than anyone else. Perhaps this is why Gloin found Frodo such good and polite company at the feast. ;) Plus, Gloin knew it could have gone on much longer, as Merry no doubt knows all the little side stories and subplots of the history of mealtimes.
Second breakfast is a wonderful thing, isn't it? I have my breakfast at work as well, since I get up too early to eat before leaving the house. I wonder if the hobbits have a special holiday for the anniversary of the invention of second breakfast lol! I wouldn't put it past them!
quendria
· 4 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
This story is delightful! I don't think I have ever read any of your works Gamgeefest! Now I must dash off and catch up by reading everything!! I love stories about the hobbits, and especially humorous ones involving their relationships with the other races and with each other. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!......Q
Author's reply
Hello Quendria! Nice to meet you! It's always a pleasure to have a new reader. :) Most of my stories deal with pre-Quest Shire, but there are a few that are set during the Quest or after, most noteably "It's All Relative" and "A Humble Gift".
Thanks for reading! I'm glad you're enjoying this and I look forward to hearing from you again! :)
Fire
· 4 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
Thank you so much for enlightening us about this subject. Though I must admit I'm glad just to read about it, having hobbits tell you must be quite exhausting. LOL
Author's reply
It is exhausting and I had to cut Merry off at just the rudimentary lesson, or he would have gone on much longer. =D There is after all so much more to discuss: what is traditionally eaten at each meal, dining manners, the roles of a host or hostess. ;)
Thanks for reading!
Armariel
· 4 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
Heheheh!!! Love Pippin's dream!! And I bet that was the most entertaining tea-time the dwarves ever had!
Delightful--keep it up, please............
~~~{~@
Author's reply
The dwarves were hoping for a nice, quiet meal, talking about mostly themselves, if they had to talk at all, and then Boromir came along and ruined it. :) But yes, that was the most lively tea they ever had!
Elemmírë
· 4 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
Oh, this is absolutely too funny!! I needed this after a long, stressful night at work in the hospital.
Merry, Pippin, and Sam were so in character. I love the beginning with Sam protecting the food at all costs and the cousins' jestful bickering.
I love the cleverness of the Dwarven recipe: make enough to serve 10 Dwarves; or divide by 2 for a hobbit serving size. LOL!!
I bet Gimli and Gloin couldn't wait until that last piece of food was gone before making their getaway. They must have been very frustrated to see it sitting on the platter for so long a time with five hungry hobbits in the vicinity.
I also enjoyed Merry's dissertation of how hobbits came to eat 6 meals a day. As a night owl, I'm in total agreement with Frodo about the merits of second breakfast.
Finally, Pippin and the rum cake is a hoot ... especially when he assumes the Gaffer can just distill rum if given a recipe. It reminded me of spending New Year's Eve at work in the hospital. There's a nurse who makes rum balls every year and we all have to limit ourselves to 2 each because they are so strong!
I hope there is more soon!
p.s. you wrote in my last review, 'nice to meet you'. Well, we've met before, sort of ... I used to review under my real name, Julie, before I joined SoA.
Author's reply
Julie! Good to see you again!
Sam has a long history of protecting Frodo's food in my stories, as you might recall. Pippin and Merry really should have known better than to try to take any before everyone was there.
Considering how long it took the hobbits to eat, Gloin was probably wishing he hadn't made so much food! They were probably even casting evil glances at Boromir, who shows up, starts this whole conversation and doesn't even help with eating the food.
Second breakfast is a glorious thing. I can see why it's Pippin favorite part, and why dreaming that it was taken away would be so traumatizing for him.
Well, the Gaffer does make his own ale, so Pippin naturally assumes it must be close to the same thing. But Pippin's hopes of rum cake in the Shire won't be realized I fear. Well I *don't* fear and I'm sure the other hobbits are going to do everything they can to make sure Pippin doesn't get his hands on any more of that cake!
lbilover
· 4 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
Oh, these first two chapters are utterly delightful. I'm very much looking forward to more.
Author's reply
Thanks lb! I'm so glad to know that *you* are enjoying this! I just reread "Golfing Fever" and loved it even more the second time around. :) Hm, maybe the hobbits could give the elves and men a lesson in golf. *ponders* I'll have to research that though. :)
Thanks for reading!
Glory Underhill
· 4 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Tea With Hobbits
This is simply delightful. You're hobbit banter is so spot on, I feel like I'm there with them!
Author's reply
Thank you, Glory! I love hobbit talk and I wish there had been more of it in the books. There should be plenty of it here though. :) Thanks for reading!