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A New Reckoning  by Dreamflower 8 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 65 on 10/3/2006
Yes, Frodo needs to be gotten out once in a while. And life wasn't fair to Frodo--not at all. As for the thought the Creator was especially preparing Hobbits to bring forth Frodo Baggins, I certainly understand that.

Author Reply: No, it wasn't fair at all, really, that he bore the brunt of everything and got nothing out of it himself.

It's a thought that is both comforting and troubling at one and the same time.

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/11/2005
"Even though I am a Knight of Gondor, even though I’m older than the King of Rohan, here I’m still just a child! And all of you are moving ahead without me. It’s going to be *three more years* until I am of age, and I don’t know how I’m going to stand it!” - Dreamflower

Poor Pippin! You woudln't mind if I gave him a wee hug, would you? Bless his heart--in a strange way, he *is* displaying his inherent underaged hobbit ways by being jealous of his freinds moving on without him. And at the same time, he has every right to be jealous; having fought in a war and knighted by the High King, yet is not considered old enough by his own people to sign a legal document. I'd be angry, too.

I can feel poor Sam's nervousness...good old Merry will be a great "best hobbit". Seems traditions haven't changed much over the years...

This is a most excellent story...have I told you that lately? :-)

Pippinfan

Author Reply: You just hug him all you like, dear; he's imminently squeezable, poor lad!

Yes, I like to show flashes of the younger, more immature Pip shining through from time to time--experience can only do so much; there are certain attitudes that only come with time. Pip's not so much jealous of his friends as worried that he will be left behind as their lives move on. Of course, he knows deep down that they love him too much to do that to him, but that is part of his youthful insecurity peaking out.

And poor Sam really is nervous--he'd really like to just *be* married to Rose without all the fuss. But of course, Frodo's not about to let that happen...

*blushes* That's one of those things an author never gets tire of hearing. *grin*

SharonBReviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/27/2004
Poor Pip, he has really grown up on the Quest but doesn't get the benefits at home. It's good his friends and family realize that he is struggling with this and are there to console him.

He is doing a wonderful job again arranging the music. Sam will really appreciate the extras of having men and elves playing and singing at his wedding. At least, as long as they all look at Rosie and not him. :-) Well I guess once he gets to be mayor he gets over that sort of shyness.

It's sounds as though Clovis might even make trouble before this story ends. Does he ever really learn?

Author Reply: A lot of unfair things happened after the Quest. Pippin having to wait to come of age was one of them.

I don't know if Sam will ever get *over* his shyness, but he will finally learn to deal with it, and not let it keep him from what he has to do.

Clovis? Learn? *wild cackling laughter* 8-)

KittyReviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/26/2004
This will be an unforgettable wedding, no doubt! With the men, Legolas and Gimli there, and now singing and playing flute ... nice idea! I look forward to it. Surely it will mean much to Sam to have his big friends there.

But poor Pippin, he is right - this is not fair at all! I hadn't thought about this before, but you are perfectly right - it is a quite awkward situation. The Hobbits should consider to declare him of age despite his years, really. I'm sure he is much more matured than most of the other Hobbits after all he's seen and been through!

Author Reply: Yes, this wedding is going to be something! I just couldn't see letting Sam get married without at least *some* of his big friends there.

I don't believe hobbits have the idea of making those kinds of exceptions. Probably the Thain would be the only one who could do that,if it would even be possible, and since Pip is his son, he couldn't without an outcry of favoritism. They seem to take the coming-of-age thing quite seriously. Pippin is in many ways more mature than many hobbits two or three times his age, just fron what he has experienced. Still, if he were human, he would not even be twenty yet, so in some important ways he is still quite young. At leeast those who are close to him understand.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/25/2004
I love the discussion of why men have small feet! Very funny. I am still worried about trouble before this is over from a certain Banks brother. The way he was looking at Merry.....Well, I worry too much don't I? I am glad that Bergil is included in the wedding plans. Looking forward to Sam and Rose's big day.

Author Reply: I think that Merry was only half-joking. It's a shame Anwynd had to burst his bubble. LOL!

Clovis still has not got his tiny little brain around the concept of taking responsibility for his own actions; he always has to blame his trouble on someone else!

Well, with Pip in charge of the music, you know he'd include Bergil if he could. It's a good thing the lad has improved a lot, isn't it?

I'm looking forward to the wedding myself.8-D

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/25/2004
So the pressure's on Rosie is it? Well, she'll have everyone tongue-tied no doubt, including Sam!

The next three years are going to see incredibly long for Pippin. He really has grown up so much over the Quest, he can't be considered a child anymore. Sometimes age limits can seem so restrictive. And then Frodo won't even be there when he does come of age. No, fair really doesn't have anything to do with what Frodo's going through does it?

Author Reply: She'll make a beautiful bride. And all the attention won't bother her a bit with Sam at her side.

This has to be such a hard thing. I think, in addition to the need to be with Merry in order to deal with their nightmares, Pippin also stayed at Crickhollow to attain a certain amount of independence that would have been impossible under the Thain's roof. Yet the legalities of not yet being of age are still binding on him, and have to chafe. I don't think the Shire has the concept of emancipated minors (though I toyed with the idea of Aragorn declring him of age, and then dismissed it as too AU), so this is a bit of angst Pip's got to live with. At least Merry understands.

The phrase "life is not fair" could have been coined for Frodo. If things were fair, he'd have all the honor at home that he had in Gondor; he'd have escaped from Saruman's curse and been cured of his melancholy. There would have been no need to sail West, though I like to think that the honor would still have been offered. *Sigh*

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/25/2004
Wonderful! The wedding is fast approaching and I am looking forward to it as much as any of the hobbits!

I liked the way Pippin talked Sam into taking the Master bedroom without thinking of it as improper, or at least not to speak on it any more! I like that Pippin doesn't have a problem about saying things, it emcompasses his character so well!

How nice of Mosco to want to come along with the company! If anything to escort his "aunt"! How very thoughtful, I hope Freddy excepted him although I don't think there would be a problem!

Legolas and Gimli's expectations of hobbits bieng that they be so cheerful and such and believing that a hobbit who is not must be defective! I think I must agree with them. I like the way you wrote, it fit so nicely!

I'm glad that Bergil is getting so much better on his flutet! I'm glad that Pippin asked him to play at Sam's wedding, that will be splendid and that Legolas was asked to sing! What a memorable wedding they are planning!

Poor Sam being so nervous! Yay for Merry to straighten him out and help him to fell better about it! Of course it seems Merry is very good at that sort of thing, I like that he was able to speak to Frodo in such a nice way!

Pippin being afraid of being left behind while everyone else grows up and gets married was very sweet. I must be hard to always be the youngest! I'm glad that Merry was able to sort that out as well. That Merry was so forward about asking Pippin what was wrong was great! Such good friends they are!

As alwasy looking forward to more! Thank you for such a fun story!

Author Reply: I have always thought of bluntness as one of Pippin's characteristics. He is not one to beat around the bush, and unless he is joking, he says what he means. That is also the reason that I think he would gather his thoughts carefully when he is being serious.

Of course, this is just me, but I postulate that generally female hobbits would not take any kind of long journey among male hobbits without a male relative accompanying them. Since most of my hobbit healers are female, I think that they would normally be exempt from this. But even so, it woulld make her male relatives uneasy to think about.

I really believe that hobbits in general have an unusual amount of charm, which would help them to arouse the protective instinct of the larger races. This would be an excellent defense mechanism for a very small race, and is easily seen in how quickly Aragorn, and then the rest of the Fellowship, bond with the four Travellers. Of course, Men who are base and wicked would not heed this charm, and hobbits like the S.-B.s and the Bankses obviously have something wrong with them. So it's not perfect, but it's a theory I like.

I think Pip's having fun planning the music for the wedding. He's very flattered that Rose asked him.

Well, Merry *is* fulfilling the function of what we would call a "best man", so keeping Sam calm is one of his jobs. But he's Sam's good friend, so I think he would do that anyway.
As for Merry and Frodo, that relationship to me is so special. Frodo is to Merry what Merry is to Pippin.

Poor Pippin, indeed. I actually had toyed with the idea of Aragorn making a decree declaring him of age, but I put it aside as being not canon. But I do really feel so sorry for his situation.

And, as always I enjoy your reviews. They are always so detailed and enthusiastic. Thank you!

Connie B.Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/25/2004
Oh, I wondered, with all the witnessing, when it would catch up with Pippin. It had to be so frustraiting for him to be so mature and yet still viewed by everyone but his closest companions as a child.

Sorry I haven't reviewed more. I have read this story with enthusiasm, and have recommended it to others.

Connie B.

Author Reply: Yes, Pippin has to be frustrated. He's still very young. If he were human, he'd not even be twenty yet. But he does have those who understand; experience has matured him in many ways, but not all.

I am so glad you are enjoying the story. This one has swept me along, and has been far longer than I ever thought it would be. It's going to seem strange to come to the end of it.

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