Jewels by Lindelea
Probably my favourite of Lindelea's longer stories. It is the tale of Merry and Pippin beginning just after the Scouring of the Shire, and continuing for quite a few years. Frodo and Sam are present, as are Merry's family, Pip's family, Diamond, Estella, and even the Cottons. Parts I particularly like are Merry's struggle with the Shadow, the telling of the tale of the Quest, and Pippin's bout with a grave illness. Through ups and downs, good times and bad, they are always there for one another.

Midnight Excursion by Briefly Del
This story has some implied Merry and Pippin slash, nothing graphic. What I like best about it is the author's characterisations of the hobbits. She has their personalities down quite well -- their need for companionship, Merry's sense of reckless adventure, Pippin's willingness to lead wherever Merry follows. And there is one bit with Merry in particular that I simply love because it is described so well -- it is the bit where Pippin is standing in the moonlight. Read the story and you will see what I mean. A gorgeously written description there and a perfect response by Merry.

Stealing Tales from a Yuletide Hearth by Skybright Daye
This is a nice little tale set at Yule in Brandy Hall with all of the relatives, Brandybucks, Tooks, and Bagginses. While Bilbo is a storyteller without peer, some of his stories are not meant for younger ears, and are always saved until after the youngsters have gone to bed. This time though, a certain group of young cousins are determined to hear Bilbo's darker tales. I am looking forward to reading more hobbit tales from this author!

A Partnership in Villany by Llinos
This was Llinos' Yule gift to me and the readers of Recaptured! last year, and it is about five-year-old Pippin and his family spending the Yule holidays at Brandy Hall. It's a lovely Merry and Pippin story, with plenty of other hobbits, and introduces the legend of the magic dragon, Thluggul! I love the characterisations of my favourite young hobbits in this story!

Merry Yule and Orange Pips by Llinos
In this chapter of Recaptured!, Pippin and Merry have been ill-treated by Saruman, and Pippin tells Merry a story to cheer him up. The story he tells is a recollection from the Yule when Pippin was seven, and Merry came to spend the holidays at the Great Smials. Uncle Calderoc has brought yet another exotic treat from the South, and little Pippin is determined to share it with Merry.

The Question by LKK
My friend Sarah brought this delightful little story to my attention. It's about a Yule tradition that began in the Shire shortly after Frodo came to live with Bilbo, and has since spread throughout the world! I think people will be very surprised to find out how this particular Yule tradition got started. Features Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf, Glorfindel, Elrohir, and Elladan, and two original characters, descendants of Samwise. It's a very nice story, and suitable for all ages.

Sam, Can I Try? by Kit5
This is a very nice little tale of Sam's first meeting with Merry, and most especially little Pippin, whom he spends an afternoon looking after. Pippin is quite taken with Sam, and the two have a lovely time together gardening and taking their tea at No. 3, Bagshot Row. Also appearances by Frodo and Bell Gamgee. This is the first in a series of tales Kit5 has written about Sam and Pippin's friendship, and all of the characterisations are just wonderful. Kit5 has quite a way with writing hobbits!

For the Love of Hobbits by Elandiari22
A very short tale of a meeting between Faramir Took and King Elessar in Gondor. A cute small hobbit story, and Faramir is every inch his father's son!

Snowdrops and Bluebells by Regina L
This story is written in Eowyn's voice, but Merry is a large part of the tale. It is about Eowyn, Merry and Faramir, told from Eowyn's pov. It's very detailed and entertaining, and delves into their friendships and fears, from the riding of the army to the Black Gate, through the interminable waiting, the joy at hearing of the destruction of the Ring, and through the wedding of Eowyn and Faramir. There is a lot of insight into Merry, as he tells Eowyn tales about himself to make the waiting easier, and I really enjoyed how their friendship grows and was depicted here. In chapter seven, the three of them visit a street fair, and that was the inspiration for the second story.

A Spring Fair in Minas Tirith by Regina L
This companion story to the above was written in the voices of the various vendors that Eowyn, Merry and Faramir visited when they went to the street fair, and it's very clever, the way the author has rewritten the action from the first story into entertaining descriptions of what the vendors saw and thought when the trio visited their stalls.

The Ruin of Men and Elves by Budgielover
One reason that I like this story so much is because it has a little bit of everything. There is hobbit sweetness and camaraderie, the story has all of the members of the Fellowship interacting, and there is danger, battle, bravery, h/c, and even magic and a bit of philosophical discussion, though this story is one of Budgie's shorter ones at only seven chapters. The story begins just after the companions have left Rivendell. They find many wonders along the trail, both natural and unnatural, but only a day or so along the way they run into trouble, and just when you think you can relax ñ- you find that you were a bit hasty! A very exciting tale!

Good Tilled Earth by Sandy K.
This is Sandy's very first fanfic and she has written the voices of Frodo and especially Sam beautifully! Frodo decides that he wants to learn to putter about the garden and Sam tries to teach his master some basics, though Frodo seems determined to bite off more than he is capable of on his first day. Sam is helpful and accommodating, without doing all of the work himself, and Frodo ends up happy with his success. A very nice story and she has another in the works!

Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady by Lady of Ithilien
This story is told largely from Estella's POV, and Merry's, and is a very entertaining tale of Merry's pursuit for her hand after he has returned from the Quest. Estella knows him as a mischievous lad from their youth, and is also just getting over a bad relationship, so he has a lot of hurdles to get over before she will give him a second look. (Silly lass!) It is a nice, romantic story without being sappy, and the obstacles in Merry's way are believable, as are Estella's reservations. There are many other of our favourite hobbits in the story too; Pippin, Freddy, Rose . . . and some friends from far away, like Faramir and Éowyn. It is not complete yet, but is at 21 chapters already and you can really sink your teeth into it, and the author updates fairly regularly.

Maybe It's The Accent by Shirebound
Several short, fun stories posted together and suitable for all ages. They are mostly about Pippin, and are in chronological order, but they also feature Frodo, Merry and Sam, with an appearance by Legolas, and a visit or two from Gandalf. Though not strictly canon, these little fics are very nice and I thought that this would be an appropriate choice for today as the first story involves Pippin and a pumpkin! My own favourites though are the ficlets at the Birthday Party and the one in Minas Tirith.

Defy the Dark by Beizy
NC-17 Warning This is something very different than I have ever recommended before. I was waiting for it to be finished before putting it up here but have decided that maybe recommending it now will inspire the author to write more quickly! This story is not set in Middle-earth at all and has nothing to do with Tolkien. It is an AU featuring Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan but not as themselves. They are called William and Dominic in this fic, which is set in Venice in the late 1400s, and to read it is to see a film before your eyes with Billy and Dom as the main actors and very brief appearances by some of the other LoTR cast members. Dominic is a Russian slave that ends up in the house of William's rich father, and the story is of their developing attraction and friendship, as well as Dominic's isolation. There are four sections of the story completed as of now, each section consisting of a number of drabbles, averaging 15 per section. This technique of writing in drabble form (a drabble is 100 words) means that the story is constructed tightly and not a word is wasted or badly chosen. Beizy is crafting this story rather than simply writing it.

I find this story fascinating and there is another of this type that I will be recommending in the future. Give it a try even if you don't think it's your cup of tea ñ you might be pleasantly surprised. The link I have given you is to the fourth part, which has links to the previous three parts

Thief of Hearts: How Pippin Stole Merry's Heart by Pipkin Sweetgrass
A short, sweet story about Merry's first meeting with his new cousin, Pippin. Exactly long enough, and I liked Merry's thought processes in this. There are quite a few stories out there that cover this event, from many different perspectives, but this one is just different enough to make it especially nice.

Stars May Collide by Rose Gamgee
A longer story, still in progress, in which Pippin travels with his father to Long Cleeve. His father has been encouraging Pippin to chose a bride, a fact which the North-Tooks are well aware of, but Pippin is interested in the one daughter that they would prefer him not to notice. Diamond is very shy and Pippin kindly helps to draw her out as he attempts to court her. The chapters are short, and the plotline is becoming increasing more interesting as the story develops.

An Empty Mirror by Shirasade
R Warning Somewhere in a camp along the Anduin, Sam muses upon how those closest to him, his fellow hobbits, have been changed by their perilous journey. Merry and Pippin have found their strength by discovering feelings for each other that they may never have realised had they remained in the Shire, and Sam wonders about how he himself actually feels for Frodo. His thoughts are valid and remain in character, as are his emotions about the change in Merry and Pip's relationship.

A Birthday Party by MarigoldG
Merry celebrates his 36th birthday party, the summer just before the Quest begins, and Pippin conspires to make sure that his sometimes too serious cousin has a very good time. Estella Bolger also makes an appearance. A nice, hobbity story even if I do say so myself!

Hobbits Abroad Four: The Fellowship of the Conkers by Llinos
Hobbits Abroad is actually a multi-chapter story that Llinos and I started co-authoring some time ago, during my last visit, and we intend to work upon it some more now that I am back. This chapter though, is all by Llinos, and it is one of the funniest things that I have ever read. It features the entire Fellowship, and what appears at first to be a rather childish game that the non-hobbit members of the group learn to their dismay that hobbits take quite seriously! I promise that you will laugh out loud, and feel especially sorry for poor Boromir!

World Without End by Karolja
This is a lovely short story written from Bilbo's point of view from across the sea as he watches Frodo wait for Sam. The wording is lovely, and the story is just long enough, with just the right amount of Bilbo and Frodo's 'now' balanced with hints of the past and hopes of the future. Excellent descriptions!

Coming of Age by Elwen
Frodo becomes the Master of Bag End. That first night on his own he experiences memories, doubts, and worries over the future, but the next day dawns a little brighter. Also features appearances by Gandalf, Sam, Merry and Pippin. A very nice little tale!

Happy Birthday, Professor by Llinos
This is where Llinos stashes some of her gems of poetry, and while everything here is quite good I am especially recommending Chapter 3 today. I did not know this chapter existed till the other night when Llinos performed it for me over the phone! It was written and posted in April and somehow I missed it! It's a delightful song listing of the foods from A to Z that Merry and Pippin are supplying for a party and I can just hear them singing it!

Eowyn: The Owner's Guide And Maintenance Manual by Sargastic Kit
I think the title is pretty self-explanatory! This is a very witty guide to help you cope with your Eowyn action figure, should you be unlucky enough to have one. The humour is as sharp as Dernhelm's sword. Personally, reading this made me grateful that I haven't risked my life and limbs by making such a purchase. I'll stick to my hobbit action figures, thank you!

Treasures in the Dark by Sunhawk
Hiding from a prank, a young Merry and Pippin find something unexpected in the deep, dark cellars of Brandy Hall. A look back in time by way of an old diary. Very good characterisations, and an appearance by Frodo. One of my favourite stories by Sunhawk.

The Green Book Continues by Kit5
Probably my favourite of Kit5's Green Book series. The Green Book is a diary of Frodo's thoughts and memories of Pippin started when Pippin was a child and intended to be presented to him on his Coming-of-Age day. This particular entry relates the adventure of when Frodo and Merry taught nine-year-old Pippin to swim. The other Green Book entries can be found via the story index on Kit5's authors' page.

Hobbits: The Owner's Guide and Maintenance Manual by Theresa Green
It's all there in the title, and it's hysterical. A manual of how to take proper care of your very own Hobbits! Thanks to the several people who brought this little gem to my attention -- I laughed out loud reading this one!

Frogs by Lindelea
A very cute ficlet in which the homesick hobbits teach a Shire rhyming game to their friends in Minas Tirith. Pippin is especially funny, and there are appearances by Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Faramir and Beregond.

Little Elfling Lost by sheraiah
Everyone knows by now that I am a hobbit fan, but when I find a story I like without hobbits I won't hesitate to recommend it. This is predominately an elf fic but with some well-written, original human characters. There are several elves featured in this story about a young elfling, the only one of his party left alive after an orc attack, and the humans who care for him until he can be reunited with his own family.

Sixth and Lastly and To Tell A Tale by Elendiari22
Two for the price of one here! The first little tale is of 10-year-old prankster Pippin impersonating a certain elvish someone, and the second is the sequel, where many years later the elf in question finds out about the incident. Very short and very nicely written, and the characters are well done.

A Birthday, A Cold, A Memory by Zebra Wallpaper
A great story that starts off post-Quest, with Frodo, Pippin, and Merry, and then takes us to an absolutely wonderful flashback of a camping trip that includes all of the above, just a month or so prior to the big Birthday Party. The flashback portion also includes Bilbo, Sam, Gandalf, and some very unexpected guests, and was my favourite part of this tale. The story concludes back where it began, and features Estella and some fine mushroom soup. Very hobbity, with parties, hurt/comfort, angst, magic and even a bit of romance. Something for everyone and very enjoyable!

Pat, Pat, Pat by SingeAddams
Oh, this made me laugh! This one is rated PG-13, folks, for kissing, so be warned. It has an appearance by an adorable three-year-old Pippin, but the main focus of the story is young Merry wheedling his first real kiss from an older lass -- Pearl Took! Merry and Pearl are both a bit surprised at where this goes, but it's poor Merry at the very end that gets the real surprise and the finish had me howling!

Sting by Treehugger
A little gem of a tale that features Bilbo and Glorfindel set shortly after Bilbo's adventure with Thorin & Company, and reveals the history of Sting, and an amazing history it is. This author has come up with an absolutely wonderful and believable origin for Bilbo's famous blade. Excellent characterisations, and several eye-openers for Bilbo (and us)!

A Garden For My Love by Tiriel
The Party Field as seen through the eyes of Frodo, son of Samwise. A short story about how the field has been transformed into a garden of Remembrance, with a glimpse of post-quest Sam reminding folks of Frodo Baggins and his saving of the Shire, and Frodo-lad's thoughts of how Sam sorrows for him through the years. Short and bittersweet.

All’s Well by Cara J. Loup
A scene that I have always wanted to see written and this author has done so, and beautifully! Sam is reunited with the Gaffer and this tale describes those first few moments when they are together once more, before Sam takes his dad to the Cottons. Heartbreaking, when you understand more fully what the Gaffer has endured, and with the perfect last line.

All Is Darkness by Willow-wode
Frodo's thoughts as he lies as if dead after the attack by Shelob. Though he is unable to move or speak, he is aware, and though very short this vignette has quite an impact, and the wording is brilliant. Frodo's emotions and thoughts are descriptive and true to the character.

Why by Molly
A very sweet little story where four-year-old Pippin spends the summer with 12-year-old Merry, and his new questioning about everything imaginable keeps Merry on his toes. As short and adorable as Merry and Pippin!

Such As There Were by Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
What if Frodo had claimed the Ring and needed his own Wraiths? This is also a short tale, and a very funny one, as the Ringwraiths of the Shire prepare to ride forth from the Black Gates. There are some great lines of dialogue that will have you laughing out loud. At least they did me!

Togethers Scars by S1ncer1ty 
This is one of my favourite fanfics of all time and has been since the first time I read it, right after it was posted! I even have this one printed out so I can read it whenever I want. It is a bit of an alteration on what happens to Merry and Pippin when they are captured by the orcs, and it is told from Merry's point of view. It is exciting, and full of angst, but what I like best about it is the emotional and psychological content. We get to see Merry and Pippin and their kinship and friendship and what binds them together through Merry's eyes, and I especially love his description of Pip's energy as I see it in the same way. I love the writer's characterisations in this story. It is just long enough, and I'd love to see a sequel, so back me up and beg her for one in your review!

Come Back To Me by Teasel
This is a wonderful short story featuring an entwife that, unknown to all but a few faithful who remember her from secret knowledge passed down by their own mothers and grandmothers, such as Mrs Maggot, stands in the orchards of the Brandybucks and helps to keep the dangers of the Old Forest at bay. A very young Pippin runs afoul of her at first, then comes to understand just a bit of her true nature and in so doing grows up just a bit himself. Merry also makes an appearance. A lot of thought was put into this little tale; in addition to some nice portrayals of Pippin and Merry, there is a glimpse at Shire prehistory, and a marvelous hint about the true nature of hobbits and how they evolved into what they are.

Beyond This World by Thundera Tiger
While I normally lean in the direction of hobbits this is a Legolas and Gimli tale set far in the future, with other familiar characters as well. I normally would find a tale like this to be too sad for my taste, and I did cry all over the computer reading the first chapter but the rest of the tale more than made up for it and it has the perfect ending. I am very glad to have come across it and that I didn't flinch from reading it the way I do most stories in this vein. It was worth it.

Dark Horizons by Littlefish
This is a longer, post-Quest tale featuring all of the Fellowship, minus of course poor Boromir, but including Faramir and Arwen. Overall it is pretty exciting, and all of the familiar characters have their moments. There are original characters, a scary original villainous creature and armies of orcs to overcome, and Pippin has some great action in a few later chapters. The battle scenes are good and so are the interactions of the Fellowship. I could wish for more content concerning the hobbits, but I really enjoyed this story regardless.