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Okay, NOW Panic!  by Boz4PM 6 Review(s)
AspenJulesReviewed Chapter: 20 on 5/31/2006
Poor Penny. What a dilemma she finds herself in, which is only made more clear by the illness she suffered. Where in ME could she find a place to truly fit in? Culturally, in many ways, she is most like the elves, but with their incredible beauty, imperviousness to disease, and immortality... well, those make a pretty wide gulf. I think while I would love the elves, those differences would begin to take a toll on me and my self-image.

But in the world of men, there are the cleanliness issues, as well as the differing ideas about roles of men and women which I suspect would also pose a problem for her. Being so unfamiliar with the everyday skills of this world would make it very difficult for her to run a household. Yet, if she is to stay in ME, which I hope for her (I think), she will not want to be alone, as in single, her whole life... and truly, what hope is there that there would be an elf who would want to marry her, especially with so many due to leave so soon.

Perhaps, much as I hate to say it, it would be best for her to return to her time. Maybe, with the changes she has gone through she will be a different enough person to change her circumstances back in her original life. hmmmmm... as I said, quite a dilemma.

Author Reply: It is indeed one heck of a dilemma, and it will not be easily resolved. You've pretty much summed it all up there. She will have a hard time finding her place (if she stays in ME, that is)

KittyReviewed Chapter: 20 on 2/7/2006
So, finally I've enough time to properly read and review this chapter! Sorry I'm so late!

Sugar and salt? Yoghurt? You know, it is intriguing what one can learn simply through reading fanfiction. Now I wonder if I don’t even know stomach problems because I’m eating so much yoghurt!
And even Elrond has obviously learned something new. It would be very interesting to have him exchange his healing experiences with a modern day doctor. They could probably learn a lot from each other.

Oh – Penny thinks Elrond will be gone in one year. I think that’s not exactly correct – it is still summer 3019, and the ringbearers departed from Middle-earth at the end of september 3021. So it are two years. She shouldn't completely forget her maths ;-)

Anyway, I’m looking forward to the wedding and to know how Penny will fare in Minas Tirith! And her reunion with the Fellowship should prove interesting. Can't wait to see it all from her POV!

Author Reply: Thank you for the correction!

Glad to know you are still enjoying the fic. Thank you for reading and taking the time to review. :)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 20 on 2/5/2006
So glad Penny is recovered, and in time for the wedding, too! A lot happens in this chapter--her recovery from illness, entering Gondor, the musings on Mordor--but really, it is quite lovely how subtle you are about the most momentous thing: Penny's realization that staying in Rivendell is probably not her best option, even though it might be what she would wish.

I love the efforts you went to, to make sure that the cures and so forth were realistice--I love that sort of detail in a fic. It gives the story a good deal of depth!

I recently made the welcome discovery that not only did one of my RL friends read fanfic, but in talking it came out that she had been reading "Don't Panic", but had given up on it, because she thought it was not going to be updated. She was thrilled when I told her that it had been archived here, and had been completed, and that you were in the process of a sequel. I hope to see her again soon, and find out if she got the chance to finish reading it!

Author Reply: Ah, this is the problem with RL intervening for so long mid-fic. I think there are still some of the old readership who assumed it was never to be updated and have yet to realise I'm back writing again.

Glad you liked this chapter, and the details. Yes, her decision of where to stay and what her fate will be is a main focus in this fic, perhaps not mentioned in every chapter, but it is a major strand in the overall plot. :)

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 20 on 2/5/2006
I'm glad Penny is better. Good touch, having the Mountains of Shadow giving off no particularly bad vibes. I look forward to the next chapter :)

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 20 on 2/5/2006
I'm glad Penny is beginning to pick up a bit. Mireth and Eleniel are very good friends to her. I'm not surprised she's beginning to fret rather about the days beyond Elrond's sailing. And the wedding comes on apace.

But Elrond's not planning on taking up eating iogget, then.

CatsbyCatReviewed Chapter: 20 on 2/5/2006
An update! :o) Just the thing for a Sunday morning - thanks for that! I'm so glad to see that Penny is on the mend and once again you handled the mundane, yet embarrassing side effects of being that ill and a woman at the same time! The poor girl having to go through that. I love the way you got yoghurt into the story and that it was someone like the Rohirrim that had provided it. You know, just to show that the elves don't quite know everything ;o) I am curious what is going to happen next - yes there's the wedding and festivities and such like, but long term? What with Galadriel reminding Penny that the elves are leaving - a sad and sobering thought - I really don't blame her for feeling apprehensive.

Can't wait to find out!

Cheers
CC

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