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Okay, NOW Panic!  by Boz4PM 5 Review(s)
ArynnReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/6/2006
WOW! You're really done a lot of research!

Of course this is harder for you all than for me.”
Why would Penny say that? Death is a separation. For the Elves, they KNEW
with certainty they would see their loved ones again. Only those who have
committed evil would be kept in Mandos Halls...the others would go to Valinor
and meet ones who had traveled there by ship while alive. At least, that is
the way I remember Tolkien.

Also, when Penny says "God" does she mean it in a sincere religious sense
like talking to God or does she mean it in a frivilous teenage way as in
"oh my God" or My God! ? Just curious. I hear it a lot and it's obvious
it's just a popular saying with no real meaning.

Author Reply: Of course this is harder for you all than for me.”
What I meant (or intended Penny to mean) by that, was that those who would die would be known to them personally - old friends, possibly even relations. Yes, they would see them again, but that does not mean they would not feel their loss far keener than Penny would, who, after all, either would not know them or not know them well.

When she says 'Oh, God!' she uses it in the popular sense of people saying it without really thinking about it. This chapter is the first one where I indicate both her lack of religion, but also that she has had to slowly accept that Eru (God) does exist.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/15/2005
It'll be great to see the road to Minas Tirith through Penny's eyes. And I'll bet she will find three weeks in the saddle hard!

The summing up of the Events is very well done - and from an interesting perspective. I liked the post-war party - and Lindir dragging Penny onto the dance floor.

This should be a fascinating journey!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
Ah yes, one chapter every day is perfect! Thank you!

How awful for Penny to be at Imladris and not to know if it would going to be attacked, although she knows so much other things! But it’s true, as far as I know it is another gap in the story Tolkien left for his readers to fill out. (Of course, that’s mostly an advantage because we can write and read so many fanfics about these gaps!) Surely Tolkien would’ve told us of a big battle in or around Imladris, but it is likely there were some skirmishes in proportion to the great battles not important enough to mention.

So Penny finally learned her first elven dance? No chance against a determined Lindir! Truly, I love the both of them together, their gentle teasing is so much fun!

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
I'm not sure I agree with you that Erestor would have told Penny that there was no right or wrong way to deal with the prospect of Halbarad's demise. It seems a rather modern way to look at it. On the other hand his acceptance of the natural order as established by Eru did seem plausible. The quiet tension in Imladris was a nice touch, as was the one fatal casualty being someone Penny knew but was not overly close to. I really liked the way you indicated the end of the war indirectly as well as Penny's reaction to it. It was fun to read about all those famous elves partying with everyone else. Too bad Lindir didn't get Penny sauced up enough to sing! ~TF

Author Reply: I'm not sure I agree with you that Erestor would have told Penny that there was no right or wrong way to deal with the prospect of Halbarad's demise.

Interesting. :) I was thinking in terms of several factors:
- firstly, that elves are notoriously non-committal and getting a straight answer even over the most momentous things can be difficult at times (witness Gildor and Frodo, let alone Galadriel and Frodo).
- secondly, that while he knows how he or other elves may deal with it, she is both human and unused to having foreknowledge, thus their method is not exactly comparable. I would also imagine that such specific and certain foreknowledge (that Halbarad WILL die, not perhaps or maybe or possibly) is unusual if not unheard of amongst most mortals - thus there is little or no precendent as to how she should cope.
- thirdly, the elves are so used to it that they are stoical - hence the reference to the natural order and Eru's Will: in that sense he is telling her how to deal with it, or how he deals with it at any rate. It's similar to Arwen's song to her near the end of Don't Panic - it's something all elves have to learn to accept as the way of things, and so will Penny.

And as for Penny/Lindir antics, singing and 'sauce' - there's plenty more where that came from, trust me. *lol*

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005
This is a plausible account of what happened in Imladris while things were popping in the south. And I think it's a good thing Penny learned to dance here. She's on her way to a wedding!

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