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A New Reckoning  by Dreamflower 10 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 58 on 9/29/2006
And so Jolly adds himself to the party going south, and at least Dago's learning to be ashamed of himself. Better and better.

Author Reply: I think some people were surprised about Jolly, but he was one I'd had in mind from the start to go.

Well, maybe. Problem is, will it stick--and for how long?

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 8/6/2005
Ooooh! Angelica and Freddy are feeling the arrow of cupid! I still think that Freddy needs to do this--go to Minas Tirith. I agree; when he returns, he and Angelica will be ready to forge ahead with life.

Hehehe…Bergil reminding Esmeralda what it is like to have a young child at her feet again!

Whoa, baby! Tom giving Marigold a huge, wet smacker right there in public! (Mari can’t fool me--I’ll bet she enjoyed every second of it!) And I get the sneaking suspicion that Jolly is going to join captain Freddy…

Bracegirdle *finally* feeling shame! Its about time…still hoping.

Pippinfan

Author Reply: Yes, Freddy and Angelica make a nice couple, don't they? She's a sweet lass, and now that her father knows there won't be any hope of carrying on the Baggins name through Frodo, there should be relatively few bumps in the road by the time Freddy returns from the South.

LOL! A young child who overtops her by two heads.

Tom was glad to see her, wasn't he? I am sure you are absolutely right.

Sneaky suspicions are the very best kind...

Well, don't get your hopes up *too* high. He has a sequel to get through, and I haven't determined two of the traitors' fates yet. ;-)

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/18/2004
Oh my, such a long time without an update. Glad to see you back. :)

Shame is too little too late to help Dago or anyone else. He should have thought about all of that before he made his deal.

I'm sure Frodo must be jumping for joy (on the inside of course) that the assembly is almost over and he won't have to deal with the politics too much longer. And is Jolly going to be joining the assembly of delegates? That's a bit surprising. Good to see more of Freddy and Angelica together. They're a good match. I don't doubt that Angelica will wait for him.

I'm looking forward to the wedding. Will you be ending the story there or continuing on?

Author Reply: Yes, between actually having to work for a week, starting a new story, and a couple of other things I have to work on, I didn't have any time for "Reckoning" but hope I'm back on track now.

Absolutely. But it won't hurt for the old so-and-so to be miserable, will it?

Yes, Frodo is about fed up with the assembly. And I see you are another who is reading my mind about Jolly.

Yes, I think Freddy and Angelica will eventually get together, especially now that Ponto knows Frodo will never be his son-in-law.

The wedding has always been the goal for this story, though I may go just a tiny tad beyond, to see the visitors and the hobbit delegation on their way. Any more than that will have to wait for a sequel.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/18/2004
I hope Jolly goes to Gondor - although not a gentlehobbit, I feel the Cotton's are probably the next rank down; worthy farming folk, and it'll do him good to see a bit of the world. As long as the snobby lot see it like that.

Nice Legolas/Opal/Garnet bit. I hope the jewels continue to improve. And the parents have spotted Angelica / Fredegar - and approve. Bergil needs his Pippin back. It must be very lonely for him among all the hobbits.

Dago Bracegirdle - good thing he is starting to think of something other than profit. Bit late, but better late than never.

Author Reply: Both the Cottons and the Gamgees (soon to become Gardners) are on the upwardly mobile path, though they do not know it as yet.

I think the Jewelry will improve now that Mommy Dearest is out of the way.
And now that Ponto has given up on Frodo as a son-in-law, Freddy probably looks pretty good.
Bergil does miss Pippin, and he's a bit homesick, too.

Dago is one of those types that never think of consequences if they can make a bit of money off something a bit shady. But now he has no *choice* but to think about consequences.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/18/2004
Ah, you're back! :-)) Hope your last week was not too exhausting!

Jolly seems a bit adventurous - maybe he would go to Gondor, too? He is a friend of Freddy after all. And he is no Brandybuck.

Dagos bad conscience seems to strike now. May it gift him with some sleepless nights!

Opal and Garnet have begun to change their behaviour, I see. Legolas had the right words of farewell for them - they have behaved very badly before, but they begin to learn, and if the esteemed Legolas says this, I think they will think about this.

Anyway, I look forward to the wedding - it will be very nice for Sam to have Legolas and Gimli and the assembly from Gondor and Edoras there, too!



Author Reply: Thanks. It was exhausting, but fun, as well. I do like my job. But two two-hour sessions of 15 kids each is definitely tiring, especially with all the prep and cleaning up in between.

You are such a mind-reader! LOL!

Dago's in for sleepless nights anyway, but developing a conscience finally might not be a bad thing.

Yes, the Jewelry are beginning to learn how to develope some social skills, finally, no thanks to their mother.

I'm looking forward to the wedding as well.

PervincaReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/18/2004
Bracegirdle deserves all the horrible treatment that you've given him. It's just a pity Merry hasn't had the chance to vent his anger again. And I had forgotten all about Sam and Rosie's upcoming wedding with all of the drama that's been happening!

So far, I'm liking the list of hobbits who wish to travel to Gondor. Fredegar and Berilac are two of my favourite hobbits :P

- Pervinca

Author Reply: Yes, Dago is pretty dispicable. But it's not personal this time, so Merry will probably behave himself.
Can't lose sight of Sam and Rosie's wedding--that's where I've been heading, more or less, all along. (Herding cats...herding cats...)

Yep, those two will be heading the delegation.

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/18/2004
I guess Sam and Rosie do need to be getting on with their wedding plans! I hope you are planning on writing through the wedding!

Merry and Pippin certainly have their prisoner under control, although I'm sure that they are rather put out with the delay! I'm glad that he is beginning to feel shame, perhaps that is the first step to being able to start a new life, weather or not it is where you have always known it to be!

Poor Bergil! I bet he is ready to go home and now Pippin isn't there with him any more. It is always strange to be alone with a friends family!

Looking forward to more! Thank you!

Author Reply: Sam's and Rosie's wedding has been my goal from the start of the story--although I was beginning to think I would never get there.

Dago has always been one of those people who think that anything goes to make a buck, and not really consider the consequences. Now he has to.

Well, Bergil has been away from his dad for a long while now, and yes, it is strange to have to stay with a friend's family when the friend is not there.

No, thank you, for the nice reviews. You always give such nice detailed ones.

trishetteReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/18/2004
Well, I have finished reading this straight through. It's looking very good so far! You seem to have an exceptionally high aptitude for writing. I am glad to see that Freddy is beginning to become slightly cheerful again. There is just one thing that I am wondering- how did Frodo take the news of Folco's death? You do not really mention Frodo's thoughts regarding the death of Folco, unless I missed a passage or two on it. also, I'm curious about your version of the story of Freddy's rebellion... what is your version of what transpired between Freddy swearing to revenge Folco's passing and his rescue from the hellish lockholes? Hm... a story i would not mind seeing in the least from you. =o)

Author Reply: I did not go into any great details on anyone's reaction except for Merry. Just that little bit when they greet him, and let him know they care. I'm sure though, that the news hit Frodo pretty hard. He was very fond of Folco himself, and also, with his tendency to feel guilty for things, he probably felt a certain amount of that, since Lotho was his relative, and since it was his absence from the Shire that allowed Lotho to commit all his excesses.

Attacking me with plot bunnies are you? Well, I'll just have to put this little batch in the back of my mind, and hope they don't breed too much. LOL!

RogerGamgeeReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/17/2004
Dreamflower,

I've been eagerly waiting to see this chapter...I've kept this story bookmarked at SoA so I could keep up with it. This is truly a masterwork in itself. I am sorely tempted to print each of these chapters and compile them into a book...the story is THAT good. It could stand as a book in its own right. Keep up the fine writing!

Author Reply: Oh, Wow! What a compliment! You are going to turn my head! Thanks for the lovely review, and I'm so glad you are still enjoying the story!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/17/2004
Another lovely chapter. I liked how Legolas didn't pretend that Opal's behavior before her injury had been alright. I liked the fact that he let her know it had been rude, but that she was doing fine now. I also loved the comparison between Bergil and Pippin. Too funny and very true. A great chapter!

Author Reply: Legolas is wise enough to know that these lasses don't need to have their past behavior glossed over. They want to learn better, and saying "Oh well, it doesn't matter" is not going to do the trick. It's much better to acknowledge that "yes, you did do things that weren't right, now learn from it and move on."

I'm having a lot of fun with Bergil. It was part of the reason I had Beregond stay behind--a child far from his home and parents is going to behave much differently than one who has his parent right there handy.

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