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FirstBorn  by Lindelea 13 Review(s)
MirkwoodmaidenReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/2/2020
Lindelea!

I loved this story in which Farry (I hope) learns some hard lessons about how his actions have consequences.

Stay Safe

((hugs))

MM

Author Reply: Thank you! I think you'll see that he did learn something about consequences and looking before he leaps (rather than the other way around).

I hope this finds you well! ((hugs))

Nienor NinielReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/23/2006
It's me again!

Oh, I knew that you would not let anything dreadful happen to Ferdi, but still... *sniffles* Good that it ended well, at least for him.

I'm looking forward to seeing more about Faramir!

Nienor

Author Reply: Hullo, again, and welcome!

Poor Ferdi, the Muse and I have put him through a great deal, I fear.

But he has the happiest marriage of any hobbit I can imagine (save, perhaps, Samwise) and so I suppose he's got all he ever wanted, in the end. Whew.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/4/2003
Very clever of you to start the story about Pippin's firstborn, Faramir, and end it with Ferdi's. I didn't figure out the double-meaning of the title until now. I'm pleased Pippin did finally go to his son, and I'm pleased Faramir was sorry, even if he knew it did no good. Intentions matter, and in a proper family, you may hate the deed but you still love the doer.

The scene with the dog was quite funny. Tolkien writes from the fox's point of view once, so I guess you can write from the dog's. And, no proper hobbit belongs in the water, we all know that now. The reunion was properly joyful, though Ferdi got in some of his trademark wit and I don't think he will have the last word with Nell. If you do write a story between here and 'Down and Out,' I would be interested in seeing Faramir's point of view (in hindsight) of this whole incident.

Good story!

CitrineReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/4/2003
Oh my heart! You have got to stop doing this to me! (Wait-forget I said that:) I was in real mourning for Ferdi. Thank goodness he could swim!

MirielReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/4/2003
All's well that ends well. I knew that Ferdi couldn't die! (He has to be in the sequels!)

I thought that you had already written a sequeal to this story-"Down and Out" and "At the End of His Rope." I'm off to read those now! (But, if you want another sequel, I certainly wouldn't mind!)

Poor Ferdi! Having to face his wife now...*shuddder*. Although I suppose she will forgive him when she finds out what happens...of course she could also kill the Thain for not telling her. :)

Anyway, thank you for many enjoyable readings, (And, today is my birthday, and this last chapter was a magnificent present! Thank you!)

Author Reply: Happy Birthday, Miriel! And many happy returns.

Well, technically, the stories you mentioned are sequels. "Down and Out" is the next one in sequence, then the new story which is outlined and in the process of being written, is called "Runaway", and then "At the End of His Rope".

Yes, I have not yet imagined the scene where Pimpernel learns the truth...

You are most welcome. Thanks for the reviews! It helps to know I am not the only one reading these stories.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/2/2003
Oh my goodness, this is more than a hobbit fishing party. Fun is good, and pranks are often harmless, but these are consequences of the most serious kind here. They didn't learn a thing from being buried in a cave. And as happens all too often, not only those who start the trouble end up bearing those consequences. We know Ferdi will survive to see his child, but you've left everyone at home a whole chapter to grieve. (and not much more - I can't believe this is almost over!) I am very sorry for Adelgrim's parents. Even if he was a troublemaker, no fourteen year old deserves to die for his sins, and it could have just as easily been any of them, including Faramir.

If this doesn't wake up Farry, then there's no hope for him at all. I think (hope) it will have the side benefit of waking up Pippin as well to his son's problems. Those two really need an intermediary to make sure one knows what the other one is thinking. Frodo would have been very good at that, but in his absence perhaps Merry could make a try - he's been very good in the past at making sure Pippin sees what's in front of his nose. Ferdi could do it, but he's a bit too deferential to the Thain as his employer to speak plainly, and some very plain speech looks necessary here. I don't think Pip understands at all that Faramir knows the severity of his health issues, and thinks he is dying. What a terrible burden to put on a youngster, especially since for all that anyone knows at that time, it's perfectly true, so there's no way to sugarcoat the facts.

I'm a bit worried about those Tooks and their long-held grudges. They didn't forgive Ferdi for decades for the tragedy of the barn fire. Will this death be held against Faramir in the same way? No, he wasn't solely responsible, but he's the most visible of the group, and the Tooks don't always do things in a purely logical way (I can see Poppy passing the blame to Farry). The escort is already smarting from water-rations over the last trick, and to have Ferdi pay for the boys' foolishness is a heavy burden. Pip was right - Ferdi is worth ten hobbits, and everyone knows it. The reaction you wrote for them at the end of the chapter was perfect.

Can't wait to see how you wrap this up in one more chapter. Guess I'm glad Pip made Ferdi learn to swim.

MirielReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/2/2003
Oh no...the poor family of the hobbit who died. How sad to think that Ferdi might never see his child. I can hardly wait to see how this all turns out in the next chapter. Cheers!

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/29/2003
Have you ever heard the curse, "May your children be just like you?" Pippin is going to learn what it feels like to be on the other side of the thoughtlessness of a child. And Faramir, with the naivety of an eight year old in bad company, both thinks they will not get caught, and that if they do it's not a big deal because after all, Da did worse. There does seem to be a basic difference between Pip's childhood adventures, which were all fun-loving if mischevious, and Faramir's sullen, angry, rude behaviour. What exactly does he have to be angry about? Does he feel neglected by his powerful but busy father? Is it the pressure of too much attention focused on him as the heir? Or Pippin's reputation as a past troublemaker that he feels he must live up to? Have his evil cousins transferred resentment of Pippin to him? Many kids become rebellious, but not usually at age 8.

I hope he does get caught. It can be the worst thing for a kid to actually get away with something, and start to feel superior and invulnerable. But if he does, Pip's likely to fire the minder, and Farry's not even going to be able to go to the bathroom by himself for a while.

Sorry I got the story lengths mixed up between Firstborn and Truth (I realized it after I hit 'submit, and there's no edit function). Can't you make them both nice and long? Easier for me to remember, and a treat for your devoted fans.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/27/2003
Lindelea, I have not abandoned you! None of the reviews I have written in the last couple of days have ever shown up on ff.n, so I give up on it. I'm just glad that there's another place I can read your stories! If you actually did get the reviews, then I'm glad (but I bet you didn't).

In the last chapter, I thought Ferdi might be saying "I told you so" under his breath on the way to the mines, and here I see Pippin is not so thick after all - he seems to have heard it despite being distracted by both worry over his son, and what looks like a really nasty allergic reaction to mold. I've always thought his breathing problems were a result of scarring from pneumonia and injury, aggravated every time the chronic bronchitis flared up: here I was worried he was going to go into anaphylactic shock and die right there (I knew you wouldn't actually kill him, but Woodruff doesn't have epinepherine available either).

Faramir is quite a little snot here - to his father, and to the rescuers. I think Pip might have been inclined to be a little indulgent with him, remembering all the times he himself slipped the escort, and all the scrapes he got into with his own cousins; however, Farry's attitude is certainly enough to bring him up short. I think there'll be some consequences for the smart mouth if not for the expedition, and a change in company coming up.

I'm going to continue to send my reviews here from storiesofarda. I hope you're getting them!

Author Reply: Yes! I'm getting reviews from SoA, thanks! Do you want me to reply here, or continue to reply at ffnet?

HaiReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/24/2003
Oh, dear nether father nor son will listen that certain company can be a bad influence. I guss Faramir is in for a fall. I'm sure he will learn something by the end of this fic. Looking forward to more! Thank you!

Author Reply: Hullo, Hai, I see you found your way here! I have not yet got used to the "review" function here, it is always a challenge to find my way over to where I can reply to reviews. Whew! Thanks for the comment, it is good to know you are reading. You're right, I think some learning is in the works, for everyone involved.

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