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The Road to Edoras  by Dreamflower 10 Review(s)
SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/10/2006
Lovely, just lovely!

Author Reply: Thank you so much, dear!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
What a delightful surprise to come home to! I'm so glad to see you 'caught up' with the ending of the story and I'm very eager to see what is going to happen from here on out. I continue to feel sorry for Cado. He has the same weakness of will that Lotho did and it landed him into just as much trouble. And now I see why that song reminded me of Berry and Viola!

Author Reply: Yes, I finally got back to where I left off! LOL!

Cado's beginning to see that sometimes the path of least resistance has hidden potholes. He's always gone along with his brother before because it was less trouble than not. This is no longer true, and he's beginning to understand now that it never *really* has been.

*grin* Yes, I did write that specially for Beri to sing at Viola in this chapter--but I'm sticking to it that it's a traditional song, he just happens to be especially fond of it!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
Oh, my! Has it been that long--11 months? I'm just happy that you and your Muse have given us this wonderful little gift. :-) Selling a house is very time-consuming--hope all goes well for you!

Now, for the story! I am still loving it all! I love your portrait of hobbits as seen through the eyes of a Man.

The wasted lives of young hobbits, Cado and Clovis...so sad! Cado is finally seeing the light of things and Clodio is brought low through his circumstances--a circumstance that he brought on himself and to his sons by his inactions and selfishness. *shaking my head* I find myself wishing for something redemptive for Cado...though I can still see dark defiance in Clovis. His pride will be his ruin; such a waste.

I am eagerly awaiting your next update--but I'm patient, too, considering your house situation. :-) Take care!

Pippinfan

Author Reply: Yes it has, believe it or not! I am *so* glad to get it going again!

Well, Cado is beginning to get a few things into his head; Clovis on the other hand seems to be getting worse, not better.

I'm hoping to be able to update regularly now. *crossed fingers*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
Ah, it's been a long wait, but a worthwhile one now this has indeed come.

Poor Cado--he ought indeed not to have followed his brother; but he's known for years what he's done with dad and brother was wrong. About time he owned up to it.

Author Reply: I *am* glad you think the wait worthwhile. I found it immensely frustrating!

Yes, he is beginning to grow the rudiments of a conscience, and he no longer has any reason to keep supressing it.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
Hurrah! I'm so glad that the camp has been packed up and the party is on the move again.

And I really cannot dislike Cado that much. He is several cuts above the rest of the herd - and most of his less pleasant traits can be blamed on his twit of a father and his vile brother. Hopefully he will learn what he should have worked out years before - you can't follow people into things the least bit of thought should tell you are wrong.

Berilac and Viola seem to be getting to know each other rather nicely!

Author Reply: Believe me, so am *I*! I've been trying to prod them loose for *ages*!

You may be rather pleased and surprised at what fate ultimately has in store for Cado.

They do, don't they?

KittyReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
Oh, you *finally* updated this! Hurra! I had truly missed it.

It is understandable Beorhstan wondered how on earth the hobbits managed to do what they did on the Quest - everyone who witnesses their everyday behaviour has to wonder a bit, I think. Gimli explained it rather well, and his own fondness for hobbits is apparent.

Oh yes, I can see the hobbits having a long and animated discussion about the question how to call their meal *snicker*

The incident with Pippin and his duck was rather nasty. Only a pity the Banks brothers got away with this back then. Poor Beryl was right, and it makes me angry to know her husband backed his sons up instead of her. No wonder they turned out so bad. Though I get more and more the feeling Cado may be stupid, but not as bad and mean as Clovis. Truly, I can't wait to know what Éomer will do with them.

Author Reply: I'd missed posting it. But it was just insisting on writing itself more or less "backwards". *sigh*

Yes, Beorhstan is fascinated by the hobbits, and seeing how innocent and peaceful they seem must puzzle him very much--I thought Gimli would have a good handle on things though.

They would, wouldn't they? If none of the usual categories fit? I can just see them discussing it, and maybe even quoting "Miss Dora" at one another!

It was a nasty little incident, and a precursor of things to come. Clodio's pride would not allow him to see his sons being berated in front of his sister and her husband, nor to admit that their behavior was unacceptable. And perhaps his jealousy, as well, was appeased by Clovis and Cado discomfitting his little nephew.

Cado is somewhat brighter than his father and brother, and he has a rudimentary conscience, that is no longer being stifled, so he may end up surprising himself.

And I hope you will be pleased with Eomer's judgment when he makes it!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
I am Soooo glad to see that you are back in business with this Dreamflower as I have missed it. Now all i have to do is find a moment or three to go back and re-read in order to appreciate it all the more. What a chore! *ggg*

Author Reply: Hope you haven't forgotten *too much*, LOL! I'm just glad I can get back to posting it!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
(“My father told me that Gandalf had once described old Bilbo as ‘fierce as a dragon in a pinch’. I remember how surprised I was when I finally met the old fellow: polite, well-mannered and soft-spoken, and a sense of humor most often turned upon himself.)
I love this discription of Bilbo and I enjoyed Gimli in this new chapter. It is great to see this one back. I look forward to more about Berilac and his lady love in future chapters. My internet is shaky tonight but it allowed me to read this at least.

Author Reply: So glad you were able to get to read this, GW! I've been missing you! I hope your problems are cleared up for good soon!

I like Gimli to talk about "his" hobbits, and about hobbits in general.

There will be a good deal more of Beri and Viola to come, as well! So don't worry about that!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/8/2006
Hurrah! How nice that I am feeling well enough to sit up a little later instead of going early to bed, and that your story popped up tonight! I've dabbled a bit in LJ the past three weeks, but haven't had the energy to write or to read fanfic (and here the MEFAs are drawing to a close... I'm afraid I won't have done a tithe of the reviewing I meant to).

You sum up hobbits so very well in this chapter. Long drawn-out discussions on the naming of meals. Light feet and hearty appetites. I particularly liked this bit: But threaten that which they love, and there is nothing they will not attempt in order to protect it. And once they set forth on such a course of action, nothing will deter them from accomplishing it, or dying in the process.”

And I'll have to look out that piece of elf-hobbit mischief (but not tonight--on my way to bed!)

You really make me feel pity for Cado. He seems quite remorseful. Can he not be rehabilitated? How sour, the smell of burnt bridges.

I'm glad that Leodwald gets to spend time with his family!

Lovely song! Does it have a tune?

Author Reply: I'm so glad you're feeling better, dear! I'm drawing on to a conclusion with my R&R--only 58, I think, to go, and I will have reviewed them all. It's been...educational...

Well, you know how I love my hobbits and their hobbitiness. And I think that after undergoing the Quest with them, Gimli has come to understand how deeply committed they are to protecting that which they love.

We shall see...I do have some plans for Cado.

And I thought it might be nice for Leodwald to get a break.

Well, not exactly. There's kind of one in my head, but it's not very consistent. I wouldn't even begin to know how to write it out. I imagine it as having a kind of sentimental bounciness, kind of like a Stephen Foster tune, if you know what I mean.

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/7/2006
How absolutely wonderful to see another chapter of this story! I'd begun to give up hope.

Fancy doing that to little Pippin - grrrrrrr! And to smash his duck (we all know how Pip loves ducks) which was a gift from Frodo! Pity Frodo wasn't there - he'd have smacked the nasty little troublemakers.

Glad to see Beri is still busy courting the lovely Viola.

Author Reply: Oh dear! I never planned to abandon it at all. But the silly story would not cooperate, or tell itself in the right order, LOL!

Yes, I'm afraid Clovis was rather a nasty little bully even back then, *sigh*. I'm not sure if Frodo would have smacked them, but I would bet he would have put a quick end to their nasty little game of keep-away. This is the incident I refer to briefly in "Waiting for Frodo and Merry".

Beri is nothing if not determined--he *is* a Brandybuck after all!

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