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A New Reckoning by Dreamflower	7 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/3/2006
And trust the Gaffer to face openly what the others still hope to deny, that Frodo won't linger all that long. It's a time of joy, but with the hint of the grief to come. And I do love Poppy and her attitude. Author Reply: The Gaffer is old enough to be able to see clearly, and his nature is less optimistic. He also has a bit more distance--true, he does love Frodo also in his own way, but he does not have quite so much of his heart invested as the others, and denial is not really his way. As with all of Middle-earth, joy and pain mingled. And I'm quite fond of Poppy myself.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/15/2005
"Why, yes, dear. Meriadoc asked his father and I to be witnesses on the marriage document. We can’t very well do that if we are not there. Ow!” He rubbed the back of his head ruefully." LOL...I had good (silent!) laugh at that bit. I always love to read/see Paladin and Tina interacting like this. I hope Pimmie isn't going to have it too rough while Poppy's gone. Poor lass. Is Pervinca ever going to have another bairn? I thoroughly enjoyed the press-conference the Travellers had with the plebes. I can hardly wait to read about their adventures in Road to Edoras. I do like reading your Gaffer; he really is a wise hobbit. :-) Thanks for a wonderful chapter! Pippinfan Author Reply: grin I had forgotten about that little bit. I figured Eglantine was too sharp most of the time for Paladin to put one over on her, so on the rare occasion he could do so, he enjoyed it immensely. Yes, although not in the time span I have so far covered. By the time the Embassy returns there will be more travellers in the Shire than it has ever seen before. I've just a bit to do on my next chapter of R to E before I post it in the next day or so. The Gaffer is a crusty old fellow, but I think he must have been mostly pretty wise, to raise such a fine hobbit as Sam. Still, he also has some of the blind spots that hobbits in general are prone to.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/28/2004
I hope Robin gets to go to the wedding and doesn't get stuck watching Clovis and them. And both the Master and Thain are going to be there. Sam's going to have a most interesting assortment of guests for his wedding! Miss Poppy is a spry little hobbit isn't she? She is right that there's no point in worrying until there's actually something to worry about, but it's hard to do sometimes. Aw, poor Gaffer, trying so hard all those years to keep Sam in his place. ^_^ But Sam was never meant to be just a gardener and servant his whole life. Author Reply: Well, Robin's got as much chance as any, since they are going to draw lots. Sam is going to have a wedding like the Shire has never seen before! Oh, yes, spry describes Mistress Poppy very well. She's a healer, and very grounded. The Gaffer has come to realize that, though he will probably never admit it out loud. But he does not fool himdself, either.

SharonB	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/28/2004
A new apprentice from the North Tooks --- how lovely to be able to tie things up this way if it's who I guess it will be. ;-) And how nice that the Shirriffs will spell the envoys for guard duty so that they can attend Sams wedding. I'm sure that Sam will really appreciate that. Poor Gaffer soon to be left to himself with the children getting married off. He should know that either would be more than glad to keep an eye on him. And deep down he really does know how much Frodo prizes Sam and he knows how what Frodo is going through will cost Sam in the end. Just as we do. As usual you'd done a great job with the characterizations. Author Reply: Yep. That's who it will be, although she doesn't meet him until "Tribute". I thought it would be nice for all the Men to go to the wedding, since they had come such a long way. He knows his children will care for him as much as he will allow. And, yes, he knows how dearly Frodo cares for Sam. He guesses more accurately than the younger hobbits how fragile Frodo's state is, because he is more willing to face that. I thank you for the compliment. To me, characterization is the heart of a story, and I always wonder if I am getting it right.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/28/2004
Naughty Paladin, making Eglantine go all through the persuasion, when he was planning on doing it anyway! I like the shirriffs taking responsibility - they are capable of dealing with the evil doers. I also like them not speaking the names of the Bankses and Bracegirdle - they have become non-people. Poppy is very confident, isn't she? I think that she will look after Mosco more than vice versa. (And along come Diamond to make the acquaintance of Pippin!) The discussion about the outside world is interesting - glad Frodo, Merry and Pippin are explaining that most ordinary men are nice too. Like Sam's Gaffer - he does seem to recognise how his son has changed and accept the different relationship between Sam and Frodo. Author Reply: Well, he doesn't get a chance to tease her very often, as she's so sharp. I think Paladin must have an interesting sense of humor. You will notice that Targon did not for a moment doubt that they would be capable. His only concerns were that Eothain agreed, and that any of the guards would not try to take revenge on the prisoners for some of the things that happened in the Troubles. Yes, Poppy is a confident healer. She doesn't think she's infallible, but she knows what she can do. And, yes, along will come Diamond, though she doesn't meet Pip until "Tribute". I think that the Travellers would want to make sure that these new hobbits leaving the Shire are as well-prepared as possible. I like the Gaffer, too. He's gruff and negative on the outside, but I like to think that he has a core of wisdom and of affection underneath it all, or Sam would not have turned out so well as he did.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/28/2004
How very thoughtful of Robin and the other sheriffs to volunteer themselves to guard the Men's camp so that they might attend the wedding! I'm glad that Targon appreciates the idea and will take him up on it if he can! Very kind that Frodo, Merry and Pippin are allowing themselves to be questioned about the outside world. Good for Jolly to speak up! I am glad that they know the Men from Gondor aren't gentry but just common folk, that should give them a hopeful look on their up coming trip! Merry and Pippin's comments were very unique to their own experiences and very much in character! The bit with Sam's Gaffer thinking over Sam and his rising above his station and all was very well done! I'm glad that he doesn't resent Frodo or anything for his taking Sam along, and the little bit there about Rosie soothing away the sorrows that he feels are going to come, very sad. Looking forward to more! Thank you! Author Reply: I thought it would be nice if they all could attend the wedding, yet after the trouble at the Ball, they might be reluctant. Also, I wanted a bit of interaction there to do with the Bankses and Bracegirdle. Frodo wants this embassy to be successful, not only for the hobbits' sake, but for Aragorn's as well. I daresay Merry and Pippin feel the same way. I'm glad that you felt Merry's and Pippin's different personalities and experiences came through in their advice to the other hobbits. The Gaffer has spent his whole life taking care of Bagginses, no way he'd resent Frodo, though he would probably never admit out loud that he loves him. I think at his age, he's able to see clearly some things Frodo's younger friends would rather not see. Not that I think he knows specifically that Frodo is sailing off in the future, but he can see that Frodo is too damaged to be able to settle to a quiet life in the Shire.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/28/2004
Just loved the Gaffer in this chapter. I could imagine him thinking about his children all growing up and going on with their lives and it also came through how proud he is of his Sam. Very wise about things in general, that Gaffer. Author Reply: The Gaffer has spent his life taking care of Bagginses, and close to the earth and growing things. He is wise, and even more intuitive, perhaps, after such a lifetime of experience, than most hobbits. I do believe he is proud of his Sam, though he'll probably not say it in so many words, that doesn't seem to be his way. I think that he can read things in Frodo's behavior that his younger friends do not want to see, and is wise enough not to deny them to himself.

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