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The Ties of Family  by Larner 8 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/23/2006
Oh, Frodo, how do I love thee, let me count the ways and add asking your lawyer to represent the wayward hobbits.



Author Reply: Frodo does a good job at picking those who will continue to represent him after he leaves Middle Earth. And Brendi is a worthy Hobbit.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 11 on 6/5/2005
A very fitting sentance. All justice should be as even-handed as this was. I liked that you had Frodo insist on a lawyer for Timono. It seems so very like what Frodo would have felt should be done.

Author Reply: Yes, I think Frodo Baggins would have wished even the worst offered a chance for mercy, and that they know that they are not alone in what they face. And I, too, wish our justice system were more true justice and less forcing people to plea bargain to close cases. I've seen several innocent folks who accepted fines for crimes they didn't commit so as to avoid going to jail or for spending years in prison.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/30/2005
Goodness, this was wonderful. I loved Frodo's making of arrangements for Sam, his declaration of Fosco as the new head of the Bagginses, but best of all was his request for justice for the collaborators. The sentences given were scrupulously fair.

I especially loved the northern Steward declaiming Frodo's Lordship, and the Bracegirdle's reaction to it.

I've got some collaborators of my own to see to--I hope I do half as good a job as you did.

Author Reply: Yes, to think of one of their own--and in this case two of their own--being thought of as Lords of all the Free Peoples and two more as heroes would be quite a shock to the system for such as the Bracegirdles.

You ought to do famously with your own collaborators, plus yours are already trying to think how to turn their tattoos of shame into decorations, which ought to make things very interesting.

As hard as he tried to give Saruman the chance for redemption, I think he'd desire similar mercy for his own people, as much as possible.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/30/2005
Frodo is able to forgive everyone, but he cannot forgive himself for claiming the ring at last!

If someone called him "Lord Frodo", he would object. But a lord he is. No-one else would have made it to the very Cracks of Doom. Anyone else would have succumbed to the ring earlier. Why can't he see that?
I hope with all my heart, that this wound will heal , too, in the west!

Author Reply: That is one of the major reasons Frodo was granted the grace to begin with, of course. I think all Hobbits tend to deal poorly with titles and honors, really. Thain is even more than most would want to deal with.

Thanks for the feedback.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/30/2005
*sniff* The first part is quite sad. It is hard to know Frodo has to leave, even if he can be healed in the West. But it would be so much more nice if he could stay and be happy in the Shire.
Oridon and Brendilac came to love him, too, that is obvious. I think it is harder for them because they don't know much and so can't understand all of what they are asked to do.
To ask Brendilac to stand with the prisoners - that is so like Frodo, wanting to help them a bit. Although I refuse to see his own behaviour at the Sammath Naur as failing, he has at least resisted longer than any other could have done, and only so the ring could be destroyed.

And it is sad ht couldn't see Aragorn another time - it was quite hard for both of them, I believe. Oh, and I love the thought of Fosco as a head of the Baggins.

The justice for the collaborateurs was well done. They have topay and work to undo some of their misdeeds, what seems quite fitting. Imprisonment seems too comfortable, banishing only is difficult because they can do more harm, and I can't imagine Hobbits execute one of their own. And I think the final sentence is much more impressing coming from Lord Halladan instead from the Shire itself.
And I must admit, I enjoyed Lord Halladan's explanation why Frodo is *Lord* Frodo now and how highly esteemed the four travellers now are outside of the Shire.

Author Reply: The worthies of Gondor and Arnor must have found the lack of recognition for Frodo and Sam's sacrifice to be inexplicable, as obvious as it is to those outside how all would be for naught had they not gone alone to Mordor and the Mountain.

Even if Frodo recognizes he was powerless to resist the Ring's commands once in the Sammath Naur himself, he still is likely at an emotional level to see himself as failing. Intellectual knowledge is often ignored at the emotional level, you know, which leads to a great deal of psychic dissonance and stress; and I suspect Frodo was deep into that level of personal confusion.

As for Frodo's wish that those who would stand trial not to stand alone--he knows that had he gone alone as he intended the Ring most likely would have been taken again before it even got out of the Shire. He knows now that everyone needs to know some level of support if they are to find reformation or forgiveness of and for themselves.

Thanks so much for the feedback.

NiennaTruReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/30/2005
It's amazing how much love those around him have for Frodo. I was touched by the scene with Frodo, Oridon, and Brendilac, and was amazed at Frodo's mercy once again. I am glad that Fosco will be family head next, and hope to see he and Forsythia make a trip to Minas Anor at some point. I'd love to see a meeting between these Baggins, and Aragorn.

Author Reply: There will be a meeting between the twins and the King, but not yet in Minas Tirith.

And I think everyone who came close to Frodo would eventually come under his spell of love and caring, including his lawyer and banker of discretion. As for mercy--those who receive great mercy do well to offer such to others, lest they make a mockery of the gift; and Frodo was not given to mockery in any form.

Thanks for the review.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/30/2005
Oh, you had me in tears at Frodo's regret at not being able to say farewell to Aragorn.
And I enjoyed Sam's logic over the extended punishment for Ted Sandyman. It was so logical. Just so long as the others do learn their lesson. And I really imagine that a hobbit prison would be comfortable. Given the nature of the hobbits the lifelong banishment is a terrible punishment. Thank you for letting me into your universe.

Author Reply: Some folk just hide from the truth, and I have always seen Ted as one of them. He'll do his best, once out of sight of his watchers, to convince himself he did nothing of note and deserved no punishment at all. It will take some time to come to terms with his own perfidy.

And thank you for entering my version of the Shire and Middle Earth, and apparently relishing it so well.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/29/2005
Timono Bracegirdle straightened. "Lord Frodo?" he asked.

"Yes, Lord Frodo Baggins, the Lord Frodo Baggins about whom minstrels from Angmar to Umbar sing, whose deeds are told from Rhun to Harad, as well as within the Undying Lands. His elevation to Lordship has been ratified by all of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth, by Men, Elves, Dwarves, those Halflings who were there, and Ents. He and the Lord Samwise Gamgee are among the most highly praised and honored of individuals of all races within Middle Earth, as is true of Captain Peregrin Took and Sir Meriadoc Brandybuck as well. Do you have any further questions?"

Wonderful. And it's lovely to read about the infinite mercy Frodo held in his heart for everyone who was found wanting at tbeir moment of truth... because he saw it in himself.



Author Reply: Yes, Shirebound, this is I think a good part of why we love Frodo, because he gave fully and willingly. He had failed in his own eyes, yet was willing to offer others the same chance at healing and forgiveness offered him.

Thank you so much for the review.

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