Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search
swiss replica watches replica watches uk Replica Rolex DateJust Watches

Time to Make a Change  by Pervinca 8 Review(s)
GravReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/29/2004
Curses, once I've started I really can't stop. And I am out of kleenex, so I have to use toilet paper.

Anyway, you've done this chapter excellently as well. The flashbacks in particular were well done, and Eowyn's letters added a whole new dimension to the tale. The emotional depth of this story continues to floor me.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/30/2004
Very well done. I enjoyed the letters that Merry received. Very sad and very touching. I will wait for the next part as all of these have been so well done.

Author Reply: Well, you won't have to wait very long. I'll be posting Pippin's chapter as soon as I finish this reply! Glad you're enjoying the story - you know that I enjoy yours!

Leah BethReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/29/2004
If that was less sad than the previous chapters, it certainly wasn't less wonderful. It's amazing how you can write about such sad occurences, yet still leave us with a little bit of hope at the end. But there is one thing that I wanted to see: Merry's gifts from Rohan. It would have been nice to see what Eomer and Eowyn would send to Merry. Still, even without that, it was a wonderfully written chapter. :)

Author Reply: As I said in another review-reply, I had no idea myself what Merry's friends from Rohan would have sent him. Shields, saddles, horns, stuff like that, I suppose. But I left it open so that people could make up their own minds as to what was sent. I can never write anything that's completely depressing - it seems to be against my nature (I am very Pippin-ish :P). Thanks very much for your wonderful feedback!

calenoreReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/29/2004
What was in the box? Or will we find out later?
Berilac COULD have found a more tactful way of breaking the news.... I'm glad Merry has people like Estella, Pippin and Eowyn there for him.

Author Reply: Well, to be honest, I don't know what's in the box either! I started to write what Merry saw, then I thought "What *would* Eowyn and Eomer send Merry?". So, I left it open ended so people could decide what was in there for themselves (probably lame, I know :P). And, yes, Berilac possibly could have thought of something a little better, but I figure, Saradoc was his uncle, so he'd be pretty upset about it too. And his own father would have died a couple of years earlier.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/29/2004
I can't really find words to tell you how impressed I am by this story. I feel as if I'm reading an extra Appendix that got left out of the Trilogy, and has somehow just been found. Truly extraordinary.

Author Reply: Thank you so much! I was so worried when I started writing these, but everyone has given me such wonderful feedback! It's probably not *quite* as good as an appendix though ;) Once again, thank you for your reviews - I will get around to finishing reading all of your stories some day! (I was reading them on ff.net under the user name of brachan90 - you might remember me :P)

HaiReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/29/2004
Poor Merry! You wrote his reaction superbly! You captured Merry's personality and past experiences perfectly! Looking forward to your last installment, thank you!

Author Reply: I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Master Meriadoc, and I loved the relationship he had with Theoden, Eowyn and Eomer. I always knew it would have to come into play in Merry's story, especially with that comment in the appendices about Eowyn and Eomer sending him gifts. And thank *you* for your lovely review. I am just about to post Pippin's story.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/29/2004
Ah, little sister, I'm in tears. This was so touching. So interesting, the blending of Saradoc and Theoden. Tears for our dear cousin Merry.

I wonder if I'll be able to read your story for our dear father, us and our brother. I've not written Paladin's death, but I have written around it, and it's oft-times hard to read someone else's perspective. I don't think you have read either "As Good As You" or "The First Day" and now may not be able to at this point. Neither story is here at Arda, only Henneth Annun and FF.net. They are my stories of Pippin and Paladin having a father/son talk near to Paladin's death (As Good As You) and Pippin's first day as Thain (The First Day). I shall do my best to read your story, these have been so good, I would hate to miss our dear father's.

Author Reply: I have actually read those stories on ff.net (but must not have left a review for them). I enjoyed both of them, and have probably drawn a some inspiration from them. I hope you don't mind! And I also understand who difficult it can be to read another story about the same event in one of your own. I've have successfully managed to avoid most Faramir Took/Goldilocks Gamgee stories, until I have at least finished my own! Thank you so much for your reviews, big sister! It means a lot to me.

JULES6Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/29/2004
I can really connect with Merry in this chapter - his father's death mirrors the loss of my own dad. Was told to make a dash of 1 000 kilometres overnight for he wouldn't make it through the night - ten minutes after setting out - he passed away - I was 8.5 months pregnant - travelled the distance in about 10 hours by car but never got to say goodbye and though it will be 6 years this year - the pain is still hard to bear. I was the only sibling who didn't get the chance to say goodbye.

This chapter will remain my favourite of your story for this reason - that I was able to connect very well with Merry.

The emotion and setting of this was well done, going from happy occasions to sad ones. Keep up the great writing. Liking this very much.

Going to go and have a tearful cry with Merry now over our dads.

JULES



Author Reply: I certainly hope that this chapter didn't stir up any of that pain. I'm quite fortunate in that the last person close to me that I lost was my uncle, and I was barely three at the time, so remember little. On that note, I was a little worried that I wouldn't quite be able to capture the emotion very well. Thank you for letting me know that I seem to have managed at that. And thank you for your feedback (this chapter was my favourite too).

Return to Chapter List