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A New Reckoning  by Dreamflower 9 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 34 on 9/28/2006
Don't give them a lot of time to think, and the lessons might just sink in the better, I believe.

Author Reply: Certainly. The shock value alone will help drive the point home!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 7/19/2005
Another lovely scene with the lasses! LOL…had a good laugh with Pippin having those horrid memories of his sisters using him as a dress dummy! But I think many older sisters do that sort of thing with their little brothers because,…yes, we can get away with it, but mostly because we just want to play house and…what the heck? Why play with a stupid doll when you have a *live* baby/toddler sitting right there? Hehehe….my poor brother! ;-)

Pippinfan
p.s. I can’t imagine Pippin *not* being close to his sisters--or parents. I like to put a tad of sibling rivalry into the picture while they’re children, yet even then, the humour is just a cover up for their true feelings--that they love each other dearly. And as they grow up, they are as close as ever.


Author Reply: Yes, I agree. I think they would have been fairly close in many ways. Not always getting along perfectly--I'm sure the "dress-dummy" episodes bugged Pip, and I am equally sure he and Merry found the lasses (especially Pimmie and Vinca--Pearl would have been a bit old for it) to be perfect targets for a lot of pranks. But I think they were a close and loving family, and that Pip was a doting uncle to his neices and nephews. At least that's the way I write them.

Personally, I prefer happy hobbit families, and you will find that my few exceptions--such as the Bankses, and Reggie/Hyacinth, are all either minor CCs or OCs. Shoot, I figure even the S.-B.s were happy enough with *one another*, or at least as much as anyone like that could be. And you would never find me giving any of our four lads an unhappy home life. It's just not on, although I don't much mind reading when *other* writers do it--as long as its not too OTT.

PervincaReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/7/2004
Now I know what Eglantine is up to - and I love it! So very devious :P I can't wait until you write about the ball! I love how you have written the moments between Sam and Rosie - and the comment made by Legolas about them being as bad as Aragorn and Arwen.

Something I have never seen before was your idea of Ponto trying to set Angelica up with Frodo. It's quite a logical thing to do, but I'm sure you are the first to actually write it! I hope that you will include a scene between those two.

- Pervinca

Author Reply: Yes, Eglantine hasn't wasted all her time among the Tooks. I'm looking forward to the ball myself.

Because the story of Sam and Rosie is such an important part of LOTR, I wanted to show that they were just as destined for one another as Aragorn and Arwen.

Yes, it does seem to follow through from the idea that the Bagginses are dying out. I can see Ponto being quite obssessed about it.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/6/2004
Hyacinth and the 'jewellery' would make a very generous present to give to Rohan. They would just love spending a few years among the horses! And they might, just might, learn to be less obnoxious.

Author Reply: Now *there's* an idea! LOL! But come now, do you really think poor *Eomer* deserves to get stuck with them? (Although it might be interesting to see his sister deal with them.) They'll learn a lesson anyway, never you fear. Eglantine has their measure.

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/6/2004
So THAT'S her plan! Tina's quite devious in her own way isn't she? Can't wait till the ball to see everyone's reactions, though I'm still worried about Frodo. I don't think Sam would like it either, since it will make Frodo so uncomfortable.

Sam and Rose are just too cute for words. Lovestruck doesn't begin to describe them. Sam's going to lose it when he sees her in that dress. Freddy should learn how to play Folco's flute. It would be hard emotionally, but I think it would make him feel better, like having a little bit of him back. The dwarves tried to marry Legolas off? Did I read that right? Poor Legolas! Beauty is his burden to bear lol!

Author Reply: We'll see how Sam and Frodo cope. It may be painful, but like a vaccination, it needs to be done.

Sam and Rose are completely besotted; they are destined for one another.

I have plans for Freddy and Folco's flute just a few chapters away.

What happened at the Lonely Mountain? I'll never tell. But Gimli might. 8-)
Right now Legolas needs to watch his back, with "the Jewelry" on the prowl.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/6/2004
I love Eglantine! She is so very full of brilliant ideas. I am also enjoying Sam and Rosie. They way they had to be reminded that others were there in the dress-choosing scene was wonderful. Loved so many things about this chapter, including the discussion of where Bergil should sleep between Pippin and Merry. Very nice. Now if only Frodo and Sam maek it through the ball without dying of embarrasment!

Author Reply: I'm glad you like my Eglantine. I've gotten very fond of her myself.

JRRT said the love story of Sam and Rosie was one of the most important things in the books; to me that means that they were destined for one another, much like Aragorn and Arwen, so I want their relationship to reflect that.

I put in the little scene about Bergil because I wanted to show that even though Pippin had always been the youngest friend, he knew how to be an older one because of Merry's and Frodo's examples in how they had treated him--kind of a "pass it forward" thing.

You don't die of embarassment, you only *wish* you were dead. I think they will cope better than they think they will. (Did that make sense?) 8-)

RogerGamgeeReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/6/2004
Dreamflower,

This is starting to read like a beloved mystery novel! There are more twists and turns developing here than I've ever seen before. I had no idea how conniving hobbits can be when they put their minds to it. Now I know that Pippin comes by it honestly. And we think Men are sneaky...hobbits can put us to shame in more ways than one.

I'm curious to see what happens when this ball gets underway...it should be quite an event. Well done...keep up the excellent writing!

Author Reply: Eglantine has been pretty sneaky, but she is just as used to the politics of the Shire as her husband, and as "First Lady" of the Shire, more used to the social aspects of it. She's going to have her work cut out for her, between her brother and no-good nephews, Hyacinth and her daughters, and Ponto Baggins.

Thanks for the encouragement!

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/6/2004
He’d gone through worse.

He kept reminding himself of that.


Those lines have me laughing out loud. That, and Legolas beign vaguely worried about being married off. Some of those hobbit lasses are agressive enough that perhaps he should be!

Most of the sensible hobbits can learn to accept the men, once they are convinced of their goodwill and see the advantage of siding with the new order that they can't really escape anyway. Eglantine has a great idea, to drive home some respect for the men, the king and the travellers with the one thing the remaining snooty, gossipy difficult ones can understand and respect - pecking order. Once everything is satisfactorily put into its place, the new status will just be the way things are done, and no hobbit can resist that!

It's sweet to see Sam and Rosie so in love, to see Pippin taking his responsibility to Bergil so seriously, to see Merry proud of him, and Legolas concerned about Frodo while Frodo is concerned about Sam. They are still and will forever be a fellowship, and that's so lovely. Looking forward to the next chapter.



Author Reply: Yes, somehow the idea of being shown off to a bunch of hobbits can be intimidating, even to someone who has faced the Cracks of Doom!

I don't think that Legolas has to be worried about being married off (in spite of Pip thinking he'd make a good brother-in-law) but if I were him, I wouldn't want to be backed into a corner by any of Hyacinth's "Jewelry". 8-)

You are absolutely right: pecking order and status are the keys to stopping the problem hobbits in their tracks. As wife of the Thain, Eglantine knows this better than most.

I'm glad that you like the way I portray the relationships of the friends. It can be a balancing act to get them right.

songspinnerReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/5/2004
Oh, this one's wonderful! I think your Eglantine is delightful - scheming and sneaky in such a good way...I just found this story and I 'm rather glad.
I really like how you portray the difficulties of Frodo coming back to the Shire, and thank you for including Bergil.

Author Reply: I'm rather glad you found it, too, and glad that you're liking it.

I'm having fun with Eglantine. She's had to live by her wits among the Tooks for many years; you can imagine how that has sharpened them.

Frodo really wanted to reclaim his life, and it took him a while to realize that he couldn't.

Bergil? I've always loved his character, and I just knew he had to come along if Aragorn was sending someone to the Shire.

Thank you for the lovely review.

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