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A New Reckoning  by Dreamflower 7 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 27 on 9/28/2006
Grief can be such a terrible thing.

Author Reply: It can. And it can manifest itself suddenly, and seemingly without warning.

AspenJulesReviewed Chapter: 27 on 7/3/2006
I love to see that Merry and Pippin are able to give Freddy what no one else could, understanding of his loss and what he is feeling, and help in dealing with it.

And I also love that Elves first response to grief and sadness is in song. I think there must be something remarkably soothing in Elvish music. I just wish I could hear some, and properly sung by an Elf. *deep sigh*

Author Reply: They *do* understand precisely because they barely escaped his fate themselves.

I am sure that it is.

And I agree. I have heard some beautiful songs, not only on the LotR soundtrack, but on other CDs, done in Sindarin or even Quenyan, yet however beautiful the voices of the singers, none of them quite match what I think of as the unearthly beauty of Elven voices.

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 7/13/2005
Oh...poor Freddy has my heart. Merry and Pippin to the rescue...bless those wee hobbits. What story do you have Folco's demise in? Will it rip my heart out? :-P I thought to perhaps read up on just that bit in order to fully understand Freddy's grief, although just knowing those two were as close as Merry and Pippin is heartwrenching enough. Thanks for a great read!

Pippinfan

Author Reply: The story is "For Folco", and I found it very distressing myself, but it sheds a good deal of light on Freddy's future character as he appears in both this story and "Road to Edoras". I actually had to stop writing "A New Reckoning" right after they left Buckland, in order to deal with it before the chapter in which Freddy first appeared.

Anyway, Merry and Pippin will take good care of Freddy indeed.

pipwise brandyginReviewed Chapter: 27 on 8/11/2004
This chapter is very moving, such a sensitive way of showing how they all deal with their grief. I felt so sorry for poor Freddy, falling apart so suddenly like that, and I'm glad he has such good friends in Merry and Pip. I felt even worse for poor Legolas though - "Love bestowed itself where it would, and it was both his fortune and misfortune that his love had bestowed itself on mortals." That is such a beautiful line, but so sad, to think of him there with his friends, knowing what will come. *sigh*

Author Reply: I know, I feel for Legolas--his very dearest friends are all mortal, and he knows that he will lose them all one by one to time, yet he still has the courage to persist in his friendship and love. And at least we know that Gimli got to go with Legolas to Valinor, though even that must have been bittersweet, as he would also die there eventually. Legolas knew very well how much grief and sorrow he had piled up for himself.

trishetteReviewed Chapter: 27 on 7/17/2004
Oh- poor Freddy! I suppose the flute will always strike him where it hurts... it reminds him too much of his loss of Folco. And how horrible it is that he did not even have time in which to properly grieve! what a terrible thing it is to lose a best friend and not being able to siphon off your melancholy right off the bat.

Author Reply: When you consider the circumstances, it would have been impossible for him to have had chance to grieve. But he has other friends who understand around him now, and can help him.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 27 on 5/26/2004
That was a very touching chapter. I hadn't thought of how music might affect Freddy. I also loved your insight into what Legolas had in store for himself when he lost his dear friends. I am still so taken with your Freddy. He is just wonderful.

Author Reply: Yes, the sound of a flute is always going to resonate with him.

Watching someone else's grief is probably very hard for Legolas, giving him an inkling of what he has in store for him over time.

I'm glad you like Freddy. I've gotten rather fond of him myself. 8-)

RogerGamgeeReviewed Chapter: 27 on 5/26/2004
Dreamflower,

I read through this chapter before going on my way to church tonight. I can honestly say I identify with Fredegar's experience...grief is indeed something that one must learn to cope with over time. It cannot be dealt with virtually overnight.

You've done an excellent job with this chapter. Keep up the great work :)

Author Reply: Freddy has a long way to go in more ways than one, but he is discovering that he has friends who can help him.
Thank you for the encouragement. I was a little stuck with this chapter, which is why it's so short, but it seemed to end at the right place, finally.

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