Hai Took
· 16 July 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
That was adorable! I love how the whole family played along with the story, even the farm hands! Poor Merry to think it was all real and they were just letting their little brother run away from home! I think that was my favorite of your run away stories! It was really cute, thank you for the entertainment tis evening!
Author's reply
I'm so glad you liked this. I had fun trying to come up with an idea for Pippin. For some reason I couldn't see him running away at that age. I figure he was far too spoiled and looked after to want to leave. LOL Thanks for reviewing!
Hai Took
· 16 July 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
Frodo at least taught Merry to take a map but unfortunately he forgot to specify that you might want a map to were you're going ;) Eglantine handled Merry very well, for all her being use to lases! I really enjoed this and would have like to read Merry's letter as well! "Eglantine felt sorry for the poor post hobbit that would have to carry a box of rocks out to Brandy Hall but she said.." Rocks indeed! Well it is nice to see that Merry's special relationship with Frodo carries over so nicely to Pippin! Very nice way to tie in their childhoods to their later lives!
Author's reply
Yes, Merry has a bit to learn about maps at this point. LOL I was never good with them but I as we know, Merry figures them out at some point. Thank you so much for reading. It's great to see reviews from an old friend!
Hai Took
· 16 July 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
Oh! That is so cute! It is such a perfect picture to think that Gandalf would sit in the road with a hobbit child and help them sort out their map! I did especially live this:
“You did enjoy the cheese,” Frodo said in a slightly accusing tone with a frown.
Gandalf shrugged. “I am uncommonly fond of good cheese.”
Gandalf is wonderful. A slightly darker ending to this one with Primula thinking of Frodo leaving the Shire, but a lovely little lead in for his later adventures. Thank you for the story!
Author's reply
I love Gandalf with the hobbits and so it was fun writing this one. I am glad you enjoyed the bit about the cheese. I do think Hobbits would keep track of what others ate and enjoyed don't you? As to the dark ending, that surprised even me. I was really just writing a little light-hearted story and then wound up with that ending. Glad you liked the story!
Hai Took
· 16 July 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
Sweet, Sam. He does seem like the type to have bee sensible even as a child. He learns quick doesn't he "He hadn’t meant to upset her but lasses didn’t always take the plain truth too well." lol. Thank you for such a sweet story!
Author's reply
I think Sam would have been a very sweet child. I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Thank you for reading.
GamgeeFest
· 4 July 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
LOL! So it was that wily Frodo who caused all this very entertaining ruckus! I'm glad to see Frodo hasn't lost his touch, though this was probably unintentional for a change. Violent stories! *snerk*
Author's reply
The story Pippin had listened to Frodo read made me think a bit of Charles Dickens and his work-houses and his suffering children and for just a brief second I almost mentioned that the author of the story that Frodo had read Pippin was a hobbit names 'Charlie Dickens' who always wrote sad stories about the poor' but I decided that was a bit too much and left it out. LOL Pip's name even fit but I still thought it was entirely too much.
I doubt that Frodo meant to read this to Pippin but I left out the circumstances behind it all to keep things a bit shorter. : )
GamgeeFest
· 4 July 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
Ah, Merry, so determined to bring Frodo back home where he belongs. This was just darling, GW, and I particularly liked Merry's viewpoint on childbirth as well! LOL! And that Eglantine assumed she'd be having another daughter because she's already had three.
Author's reply
Glad you enjoyed this one. I do think that Merry would have tried at least once to bring Frodo home. After all, no one can be more determined than Merry and at eight I am certain that he didn't listen to reason very well.
I have a friend with six daughters and after about the third she never expected anything other than a girl. That is where I got the idea for Eglantine's mind-set in this story. LOL
GamgeeFest
· 2 July 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
Oh, GW, this was just adorable! I can very much see young Frodo attempting an adventure and not packing enough supplies. I enjoyed Gandalf's observations and the sneaky way he aborted Frodo's plans to travel to Dale. I can imagine him retelling this to Bilbo - Bilbo will get quite a kick out of it, but he'll also be sure to revise his stories in the future to point out how dangerous it is to travel alone. :)
Author's reply
Yes, Bilbo has some more explaining to do, doesn't he? I think he might not have realized how interested Frodo was in his travels and how easily he would attempt to go on a journey of his own. Thanks for reading and sorry this reply was late. I thought I had responded to this but the internet must have eaten my response! LOL
Socrates399
· 29 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
I loved this! It was hysterically funny. Thanks.
Author's reply
That you for reading and reviewing! I love it when people enjoy these and get a laugh from them! Drop by any time.
PIppinfan1988
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
LOL!! Oh, my gosh -- now *that* was a trip! Only Pippin could get the entire family and farm into role-playing -- and loving it! I certainly did. :-) I also liked that, for a brief moment in Shire time, Merry was duped into believing Pippin's role until all was truly revealed. Most excellent! :-)
PF
Author's reply
I thought it was about time that Merry got fooled. He can't know everything, can he? LOL
I could see Pippin loving the adventure of this and I am certain that he had a very big imagination as a little one, aren't you? LOL
Thank you for reading and thank you again for the email yesterday. It made my day .
Baggins Babe
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
Oh Pippin! *giggle* This is priceless - I love the fact that all the family join in, and Paladin was something of a revelation. Not the stuffy future Thain but believeably Pippin's father, and with a sense of humour, and he knows not to stifle that vivid Tookish imagination.
And it was all Frodo's fault too!
Author's reply
Thank you! I don't always write Paladin as this light-hearted but I do think he must have been once. After all, Pippin had to get it from someone didn't he?
Thank you for the lovely review. That Frodo certainly entertained everyone on the farm and he wasn't even there. Now that's a talent in itself, isn't it?
Baggins Babe
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
Eglantine felt sorry for the poor post hobbit that would have to carry a box of rocks out to Brandy Hall
So do I! An interesting and considerate present for Merry but no good for the post hobbit's lumbago I fear!
A lovely and very interesting look at Eglantine here - I like the fact that she is prepared to fib for Merry, and I think she'll manage just fine when she has her own adventurous lad.
Author's reply
Yes that post hobbit was in big trouble. I liked the idea that Frodo would actually mail rocks though and so I decided to risk the post hobbits anger by letting him. : )
I see Eglantine as someone who doesn't often let her guard down and who is a 'by the rules' kind of person. I liked letting her relax with Merry here. I figure Merry for a natural schemer and planner and so I had no trouble imagining that almost anyone would follow his lead! His such a charmer! LOL
Baggins Babe
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
Gandalf is one very tricksy Wizard! oved his delaying tactics here. Frodo is such an intelligent child that a straight 'you can't do that' was never going to work.
That tiny note of foreboding was just right, GW.
Author's reply
I think that it takes a very different approach to raise a bright child. You're right. They question everything and so a simple, 'no you can't do that' is more of a challenge to them than an acceptable answer. LOL
And that foreboding just slipped in there. Glad you enjoyed this!
Baggins Babe
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
This was just so 'Sam' it was perfect. And the Gaffer is lovely and a very proud father. I think you have our favourite Gamgees absolutely right here.
Author's reply
Thank you! I don't write much Sam and so your words are very welcome praise indeed. Thank you for the lovely review!
Andrea
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
“Hullo, Merry!” Pippin said smiling brightly as his older cousin entered the kitchen. “I’m running away from home. Want to come?”
ROTFL!!!!
I just can't stop laughing!
That was fantastic! I can see those farmhands enjoying themselves immensely.
And it was all Frodo's fault! But it gave Pippin's family some time off - and Merry some confusion ;-)
Author's reply
Thank you for laughing! It is exactly what I had in mind when I wrote this! I could just see the farm hands competing to get to come to tea with the family. Besides, after you work in the garden, feed the animals and do the rest of the chores, you really do need something entertaining to do now and again!
Merry may have a thing or two to say to Frodo when next he sees him. LOL
Andrea
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
“I hope this baby has a special cousin too,” Eglantine said.
“If it’s a lass then it won’t need a special cousin cause it will have all those sisters,” Merry sighed.
LOL!!!
That was great, G.W.! Very Merry, indeed!
Like Frodo I was surprised that Eglantine actually lied for Merry. But concerning the circumstances it makes perfect sense to me.
BTW, would you be so kind to tell me the meaning of "MEWD"? I tried a Google search some time ago, but it produced only rubbish ;-)
Author's reply
I thought I'd let Eglantine conspire with Merry just this once. I wanted them to bond a bit before that baby arrived. LOL
As to the meaning of MEWD, I am sorry to say I don't know it. LOL My friend Pearl Took uses it in reviews and I have always meant to ask her but never remembered to do so. I hope it's something good. LOL If I find out I'll let you know.
Thank you for reading!
Author Reply: Andrea, MEWD, I am told, means "Most
Excellently Well Done ". I asked and it is a longer version of WD which is "Well Done!" I never would have guessed but now we both know.
GW
Golden
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
*L* Very amusing! Reminds me of one of my kiddis, who also is the born actor and has an unlimited imagination.
Your Pippin is adorable! And how anyone plays along, even the farm-hands is great!
Author's reply
I think Pippin and most small children love to play act. Most children with vivid imaginations are very good at this sort of thing. I'm glad you agree! Thank you for the sweet review!
elanor winterflowers
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
And the tour de force, saved for last! This is great! Your little Pippin is always an affable wonder, but now we can see that he is ably and lovingly indulged by a family that finds him as entertaining as we do! Paladin is in particular a revelation here, a whimsical fellow with more than a nodding acquaintance (I think) of imagination as high art. Pippin is enchanting all on his own, but with such a family, it's obvious he was groomed for courage and greatness!
Author's reply
Pippin is just so much younger than the others and the only son and utterly charming so I figure that he was very spoiled in that good way that little ones are over-indulged. I couldn't see him with any real reason to run away at that age but I could see him loving the adventure of the idea.
As to Paladin, I have not always written him in this light but I do enjoy him much more as a loving, slightly amusing, father.
Your last line about courage and greatness has given me a tiny plot bunny for this serious and if the little bunny sticks around I may have another set of four for this grouping in the near future! Thank you for reading!
Dreamflower
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
ROTFL! Oh Pippin! Well, kids had to do *something* when they didn't have TV and video games and internet, didn't they? I love how Pippin's family all played along with him, and poor Merry's confusion.
And now Merry has something else to blame on Frodo! LOL!
Author's reply
For some reason I can see the Hobbits enjoying plays and play-acting. Imagine a group of Hobbits performing a play about the beginnings of the Shire or about their favorite Wizard. I thought Pippin would be just the right sort for a bit of make believe and that silly Frodo Baggins would be just the one to begin it! LOL
This was one time when Merry did not have all of the answers! : )
Agape4Gondor
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 3: With A Kiss
Yikes! Delightful - all of them...
Author's reply
Thank you. This was some rare romance for me. I don't write it often but it was Valentine's Day.
elanor winterflowers
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 3 Merry
I love this! Two of my favorite characters in a perfectly constructed discussion of very important matters. Merry has just the right amount of smarts and exasperation and mulish determination, and Eglantine is a quick study of little lads, good training before the arrival of Pippin! I so enjoyed reading this, but then I knew I would. You never disappoint!
Author's reply
Pippin is my favortie hobbit and always has been but Merry is a very close second and it has always been easier for me to write Merry for some reason. I find that I write from his POV more than any of the others. Thank you for reviewing and I am very glad you enjoyed this.
elanor winterflowers
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 2 Frodo
I loved your grave little Frodo here, preparing with such care for his adventure! And Gandalf is very cool--I love the fact that while he plays along and even manipulates things a bit, he doesn't compromise the truth. His lessons are perfectly placed in the conversation and he has faith that Frodo is clever enough to learn them. The end is, as with all things Frodo, a little bittersweet, but very insightful, too. Nice!
Author's reply
That ending happened by accident. I had meant to keep this light-hearted but somehow I just couldn't resist the urge to show Primula worrying about her darling lad. She must have had a bit of that insight that Frodo developed don't you think? As to Gandalf, well, I adore Gandalf with the hobbits so I had fun writing that part of it all! Thank you for the kind words.
Edlyn
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home part 4 Pippin
Oh, this was absolutely charming! I have the biggest smile on my face from reading it. I like all of these stories but this one is the best of the bunch in my opinion.
Bravo!
Dancingkatz
Author's reply
Thank you! I always enjoy writing Pippin and I am very glad you enjoyed reading this.
Agape4Gondor
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 2: Getting Left
I love you how 'bind' your tales together - makes them ever more fun to read.
Author's reply
Thank you. I like the stories to connect in some way when possible. I'm glad you enjoy that about them. Thank you so much for reading these.
elanor winterflowers
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
What a lovely family! Little Sam is so sweetly earnest and the Gaffer is so openly in love with his kids. I really loved watching the interaction here. Great dialogue, as always, and the best in human nature on glowing display. I so enjoy your stories!
Author's reply
Thank you! Sam makes me nervous when I write him but I am getting braver about him lately. I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I am in awe of your writing talent and it always amazes me that you read my stuff! Thank you.
Agape4Gondor
· 28 June 2007
· Chapter 4: Leaving Home, part 1 Sam
Hooray! *claps wildly* - Delightful chapter. I love Sam's 'sense' and trying to do right for him family, but I love Gaffer's common sense - which we are all well aware of from the sayings Sam uses in their travels...
Excellent chapter.
Author's reply
I love Sam dearly but I don't write him often because I worry that I'm not getting him exactly right. I'm very glad that you enjoyed this. The Gaffer is a favorite of mine so I did enjoy writing him in this. I do think he must have been a very good father. If Sam respected him so much then he had to be.