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A New Reckoning  by Dreamflower 8 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 62 on 10/3/2006
The "Baggins" clause did it for me. and I can understand why Pippin was upset when he read Frodo's original will. Poor lad!

And the company headed south is coming together.

Author Reply: Yes--that's what Grubb and company have come to call it. When Bilbo did make his will at Frodo's adoption, he included the language that would let it go into effect if he should declare an intention to leave the Shire permanently. (In fact, thanks to Gryffinjack, the entire text of Bilbo's will and Frodo's adoption papers can be found in the A/N to "Testaments of the Past") Frodo was careful to maintain that clause himself in his various wills, as he wished to leave himself free to follow Bilbo one day. The actual circumstances of his leaving never occurred to him, of course!

And poor young Pippin--it scared the bejeebers out of him!

Yes, it is!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/9/2005
"Pippin laughed. “Delayed a bit? Is that what you call it? Frodo, we are late because *certain* lads just couldn’t bring themselves to finish saying their farewells to *certain* lasses.”

Oh, that was gem! I got a good "silent" chuckle at while reading at work. I loved Pippin and Merry's new beds! *Nice* touch! :-) I can hardly wait for the delegation to get started now...look at me--jumping ahead already to Road to Edoras.

Take care,

Pippinfan

Author Reply: *giggle* Yes, I thought that might state a bit more about Freddy's and Merry's states of mind than actually showing the farewells.

I just thought the new beds would be the kind of thing a thoughtful person like Frodo would do for his favorite cousins.

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/11/2004
Frodo going to all that trouble to get Merry and Pippin beds comfortable enough for them! I liked Sam asking Frodo if he remembered the bed sheets! I like what you had carved into them, very appropriate for those who will be using them!

Frodo going to have his will re-done so that he can leave everything to Sam was great! I would never have thought that about Frodo leaving a will on the matter (either time) but that is a good thing. The clause that is suppose to be set in on the grounds that he is a Baggins is very appropriate, although it makes me sad to think that he is already thinking about leaving again, at least to some extent. Pippin confessing that he had seen Frodo's original will was very sweet, that he was still a mite upset about it and all.

I'm glad that Marigold wanted Frodo to officiate their wedding! That she was shy about asking was sweet!

Legolas' wedding gift was perfect! How very thoughtful of him! It is wonderful that Sam will now have some of the plants from his own journey's to plany in his own gardens! Gimli making the goblets was good too.

I'm glad that Bergil came along! I liked the conditions that Pippin put down for him tending the horses! Also the talk about trying to turn him rascal but Bergil having too much sense of responsibility and that the King would probably help turn him rascal!

It was all wonderful and as always I'm looking forward to more!



Author Reply: Frodo has always been a thoughtful and generous host, just as Bilbo was. He thinks the world of his cousins, and would feel bad to think of them sleeping on the floor when they come to visit.

I am sure that Frodo would have had to have put his intentions for Sam into an official document, even if he did not tell Sam about it. I can just imagine the talk if he had not, and the three friends come back from the Havens, and say, "oh, by the way, Frodo said at the last minute that he wanted Sam to be his heir." Pip's glimpse of Frodo's first will really shook him. And I imagine that he felt guilty for snooping, as well. I thought this would be a good place for him to admit it.

Marigold is not quite as close to Frodo as Sam is. But she is fond of him as well, and that would be a good way to have him take part in her wedding.

I can imagine on the Quest, Sam looking at every unfamiliar plant, and wanting to know about them, and Legolas answering most of his questions. With their common interest in growing things, I'm sure that they spent a lot of time at it.
And of *course* Gimli made the goblets! 8-D

Pip's still trying to get Bergil to lighten up a bit. As I was writing it, and thinking of all the people that would *disapprove* of Pip's efforts, it just seemed to me that Strider would actually approve of them very much. I just know he would have liked his Realm to be a place where a child could be a child.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/11/2004
Great chapter! I think it's great that Jolly will be going. I think Freddy will take him as someone to help along and it will ease his pain at losing Falco a bit. Sad how Merry and Pippin have no idea how very soon Frodo's will comes into effect. I suppose Frodo was planning for it even then with his "Baggins Clause". Still a great story and I look forward to the wedding.

Author Reply: I think it's great that Jolly's going too. Freddy will have someone who understands his problems.

Yes, I did kind of want that to be a bittersweet thing: the readers knowing it will be in just a year and a half, while Merry thinks it will be "years and years".

I don't think Frodo was so much *planning* it as keeping his one option open. He knows he's got an offer to sail, he just doesn't know if or when he will take it, but he wants to be ready. But by the next spring, he will know that his hopes of making a life for himself in the Shire are not working. It is sad.

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/11/2004
LOL, I can just imagine that farewell scene between Freddy and Angelica, and Merry and Estella. I think it's cute that Freddy is so bashful about it. It's going to be a long year for the two of them, more so for Angelica though. Freddy will be quite busy. And I'm glad that Jolly is going to go. He'll have a whole new appreciation of his soon-to-be brother-in-law by the time he gets back.

Poor Pippin, he wants so badly to corrupt Bergil lol! But at least the lad learned how to have fun while he was visiting. I think one last prank is in order before he leaves *hint* *hint*

Author Reply: Yes, I decided to not show it, just let Pip mention it after the fact. I'm leaving out quite a few little scenes that have popped into my head, as I am really trying to keep the plot moving forward.

It will be a long year, and they will both be busy. And yes, I am glad Jolly is going. I wanted one of Rosie's brothers to go from the start, and Jolly seems like the best bet, since Tom's getting married, and the others are still a bit young.

I don't think he really wants to corrupt him. As he said, he's too nice a lad to spoil. But he's done his best to get the child to lighten up. I'll have to think about your suggestion. It definitely appeals to me, but I'm not sure just where I can work it in.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/11/2004
Pippin and Merry are so pleased about their beds - it just shows how thoughtful Frodo is.

Typical of Pippin to snoop around and find the will - glad to see he managed to keep his mouth shut until now. Also happy to see that they value family above money.

Is Bergil the first non-hobbit to read the Red Book? I'm glad to see him enjoying it.

Oh good - Jolly Cotton is heading off on his travels. I don't suppose Freddy could marry Angelica and take her on honeymoon. The trip needs more lasses.

Everything seems to be winding down nicely. Roll on Sam's wedding!

Author Reply: Of course Frodo is thoughtful and concerned about his cousin's comfort. And Pip and Merry really are able to appreciate it.

Yes, Pip found the old one during Conspiracy (Ch.14). It really upset him. It is a hard thing to think of someone leaving something like that--it's nice that they want you to have it, but upsetting to know you have to lose them to get it.

As far as I am concerned he is,8-). And who wouldn't enjoy their first reading of The Hobbit?

Yep, Jolly's going along. But I'm not ready to rush the Freddy/Angelica nuptials.

Sam's wedding, coming soon, to a chapter near you. LOL!

RogerGamgeeReviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/11/2004
Leave it to Pippin to snoop around. I should have known he'd be too curious not to try and figure out what was going on. If he hadn't, he wouldn't be the Pippin we know and love. I remember you saying earlier that you could see the finish line of this story...in a way, I almost hate to see it end. It could be the beginning of a continuing saga of sorts, I think. At any rate, a marvelous job of writing (would that I could write so well myself). Well done, as always!

Author Reply: Yes, Pip came across the old will in Ch.14 of "Conspiracy" and it upset him mightily. It was one time he wished he hadn't been so curious.

I do think that this one is winding down, but there is definitely at least one follow-up story in my head.

SharonBReviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/11/2004
Well you got someone else to sign up just so they could leave reviews. I've really enjoyed your writing of this story and all the twists and turns. Actually I've enjoyed all the stories you've posted here as I've been wading through them in the last couple of months.

Poor Pip and Merry upset that Frodo thoguh so mcu of them. But then it's not hard to understand that they prefer him to "moldy old money" as Pip put it. ;-)

Author Reply: Oh, wow! Thank you. I never know quite what to say to a compliment like that!
8-D

That's the upsetting thing about wills and bequests and inheritances. It's very nice to know that someone loves you enough to leave you something that way, but if you care enough about them at all, it has to hurt to think that the only way you will come by it is if they die. (Or in the case of Bilbo and Frodo, go away forever, which comes to much the same thing for those left behind.)

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