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Okay, NOW Panic!  by Boz4PM 11 Review(s)
harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/19/2007
Ai, Halladan,that wasa hard interview but at least thewound islancedalittleandcan,perhaps, begin to heal. A masterful chapter.

Author Reply: Thank you, I'm thrilled you thought so. Thanks for reading! :)

TathrienReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/15/2007
Finally, Halladan will be able to receive much needed help from others besides Penny.

It was sad to see Halladan's reaction to the others finding out about his condition, especially when Arvain was told things he had before been oblivious to. Being so vulnerable must be extremely painful to someone as strong and noble as Halladan, but pain is often a necessary step to healing. I'm glad, though, that Arvain is now completely informed of Halladan's condition; now he can be that much more of a support.

Also, it's good to see Arvain and Penny back on friendly terms; actually, they seem a bit closer now that Arvain realizes how much Penny risked and sacrificed for his brother.

Thank you for another wonderful chapter! I hope to read more soon! ;)

~Tathrien

Author Reply: Being so vulnerable must be extremely painful to someone as strong and noble as Halladan
Indeed. It was an extremely painful and distressing experience for Halladan to have to go through that, but as you say, it was necessary. He was never going to fully open up and Penny felt honour bound not to - they had to have their hands forced. Now that it's happened, things can only improve.

Thank you for reading. :D

MarianneReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/8/2007
Hi again!

Thank you so much for a great update! I have to admit that I still check for updates daily, even though I know it usually takes a while for you to manage it. But when I think of how thorough your research is and how you manage to create such in depth characterizations of your original characters I can hardly blame you. I still love these two Penny-stories to death, and have reread them several times since I started to get hooked somewhere halfway through Don't Panic.

I am so glad that things finally came out in the open for poor Halladan. Also because Penny could finally talk about some of what had happened. I think this will help them both immensely. I also loved Arvains "protective older brother"-routine towards Penny afterwards. Priceless!!

I think I read somewhere that you plan on calling it a day as far as Pennii is concerned after finishing this story. Any chance we'll be seeing some shorter ficlets...maybe some humorous/moving/angsty/fluffy one-offs from Penniis time in Imladris. I would so love to see more of her developing relationship with Erestor and Elrond. Not to mention the dunedain. Oh, well. Time will tell I suppose. I just hate the idea of no more Penny-updates. Even though what you have written so far can almost be considered books in their own right.

Well, that's all for now. Thanks again, for a great story.

Best regards,

Marianne, Norway

Author Reply: Thank you for commenting - glad you liked this chapter.

You are right, this moment was nearly as cathartic for Penny as it was for Halladan. She's been desperate to tell someone, or have Halladan tell someone, ever since it happened. It's one less weight on her shoulders now it's out in the open and that will help. That and, now it's been discussed so very freely, she can better talk about it if not with Halladan (depending on how he reacts in future to her about this, of course) then certainly with any of the others that were in that room and that is a Good Thing. :)

I have actually said elsewhere (and possibly here in a reply to a review some time back) that it is highly likely that, even after this fic comes to an end, there will be ficlets and one off stories that my brain will come up with and I will feel the need to exorcise. ;) I know people will probably go 'ack, you can't stop there' wherever I stop, to be honest, but I know where this story is going, what the end is, and the vague journey there (if not the specifics and details - they only come when I writing the chapter usually) and that's that.

I can't (and won't) promise anything. As much as anything else, the reason things are so delayed is because RL is so mad, and that's a situation that won't change anytime soon and will likely only get worse, frankly, so it's a question of time as much as anything. However, if I find the time, the likelihood of my doing not a 'third fic' but slowly, occasionally adding to a collection of ficlets is high. It will contain all sorts, I would imagine, covering all and many of the characters. There would be stuff in it to do with various characters back history - such as Lindir's brother and his fiancee, Eleniel's lost love, Halbarad and his wife, Halbarad and Faelon as kids, etc - as well as possible future scenes and stories of Penny amongst the Dunedain.

But (and it's a big 'but'), no promises. Only if I can. ;)

aelfwineReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/7/2007
I am still loving this story. I don't know why you think epic length should bother your fans , after all we read tolkien right? ( wink wink nudge nudge. Now that penni's guardian is finaly getting some extra help I am wondering if penni will be able to admit that she too needs some help to deal with her own emotional baggage. (You know you have written great characters when your fans start thinking of them as real) Keep up the good work and I will keep checking for updates.

Author Reply: Well, I'm very conscious of the fact that this story is easily twice as long as Don't Panic already and still has more to go. Also, I never really imagined it would go on this long, both in terms of the length of time it's taken me but also the chapter numbers/word count. I had forgotten at first that the 'stopover' at Minas Tirith was so short, so had at first thought it would end there. When I realised it was only a few weeks I then twigged Penny would have travel with them and that threw up a lot more storyline than I'd ever originally bargained on! *lol*

Glad you are still enjoying it all, and thank you for reading! :D

Vicki_TurnerReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/2/2007
I wish I had the time and the words to rightly say how much I enjoy this story. The characters are amazing and every chapter I want to know what is going to happen next. I can't wait until you update next, whether in a week or a year, because its that good I'll definitely be reading it even then.

Author Reply: Thank you.

And thank you for continuing to read. :)

EleaReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/2/2007
I have just spent the last four days reading this story (including "Don't Panic") and I haven't been able to put it down. The story is riveting, compelling, funny and emotional. I can't remember the last time I've cried so much over a story.

I love the characters you have built up. I can especially relate to Penny and I adore the Penny-Halladan relationship.

This last chapter was wonderful. It was great to have Penny's strength and kindness shine through and be appreciated. I loved that she and Arvain were bickering. They really are like siblings now ;)

Thank-you so much for writing this story. I cannot wait to read more.

Elea

Author Reply: I'm forever amazed that people are not only willing to pick this thing up from the beginning (given it's epic length nowadays) but manage to read it all so fast sometimes! Thank you for the supreme effort that must have taken you!

Thanks for reading and enjoying, let alone taking time out to let me know what you thought. :)

DaynawaynaReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/2/2007
That was .... wow. Penny is so honorable, even under the scrutiny of GANDALF. Holy cow. I'dve spilled my guts waaay before she did! That was heartbreakingly beautiful Boz. You always evoke such depth of emotion in your characters (and your readers!) it just amazes me. I love the defending of positions: he didn't draw his sword on me/you were in such danger something HAD to be done/I confronted him because I couldn't NOT confront him.... wow.

Now we just have to get Halladan to stop berating himself (ok, he's a man and a warrior... gonna take a looooooooooong time!) and not feeling so bad about it all. And I'm SO thankful Arvain saw Penny's "wisdom" and realized that she really was helping and while very much in danger, very aware of how to minimize that danger as best she could. And her dreams, OY!MOMMA! And I thought I liked to write about angst! GEEEZZE woman! :) Halladan sobbing holding her brother makes me think of Eomer/Eowyn in the extened cut of ROTK... which moves me to tears most viewings.

Great chapters! Thanks so much for making it a 2-fer weekend! :) :) I now pray that RL plays nicely and doesn't make us wait another 3-4 months for the next installment! But even if it does, you know we'll be here waiting (somewhat) patiently. :)

God Bless,

Dayna

Author Reply: I love the defending of positions: he didn't draw his sword on me/you were in such danger something HAD to be done/I confronted him because I couldn't NOT confront him...
Thanks for that - it was an important part of what I was trying to convey. :)

Halladan's going to be sick as a dog over what he's learnt in that meeting, but better to confront it and deal with it than try and carry on as normal - which wasn't working.

Glad you enjoyed, and thanks (as ever) for reading! :D

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/1/2007
A powerful chapter.

An overwhelming last three paragraphs.



Author Reply: Thank you. I'm glad you thought so. :)

MissReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/1/2007
Thank you!!!

That was a very good chapter.I truly felt sorry for Halladan and Penny discomfort. I hope that things will be getting good for Halladan, in time.

So, Penny is being chases by dreams. Intersting......


Till the next chapter!

Author Reply: Well, she's under a lot of stress and carrying grief at the moment - it's a natural 'stress outlet'.

Glad you liked it! :D

KittyReviewed Chapter: 47 on 7/1/2007
Oh Boz, what an emotional chapter! It left me in tears and rather breathless and drained - I am not sure my English is good enough to express my feelings about this properly, as I find it difficult to do so even in my own language. I can only say it was one of your best chapters, and certainly worth the long time and trouble you put in it.

It was very touching that Penny even now, after all that happened, kept her promise to Halladan, though I am glad Gandalf guessed enough to get them to talking about the day on the Pelennor at last. Poor Halladan, it must have been so terribly embarassing for him, even if it will help him in the end. But to have to talk about it all so publicly ... poor guy. I repeatedly wanted to hug and comfort him.

What I loved most in this chapter was how fiercely Penny defended Halladan, allowed no blame to fall on him, how desperately she tried to convince everyone he did nothing to her that truly counted, to make them understand. He may be her guardian, but she’s as protective of him as he is of her. And I hope it may have helped him to see that she did not blame him for anything, but was so understanding and defended him so resolutely. Maybe it lessened his feelings of guilt a little bit.

And I am so very glad he finally started talking about his problems, no matter how difficult it is – it is necessary for him in order to heal. Equally glad I am that the others understood, that Arvain is not longer angry at her, but thankful, and that Elrond followed her out and told her what he did.

Though honestly, you could have let her dreaming of something more pleasant after this day of emotional upheaval. This nightmare was rather scary, even if probably to be expected after the tour Legolas gave her. I fear now it is Penny herself who needs to talk to someone ...

Thank you for a great and impressing chapter, Boz, one I will re-read frequently.

Author Reply: Thank you so much for such a lengthy review, especially not in your first language!

What I loved most in this chapter was how fiercely Penny defended Halladan, allowed no blame to fall on him, how desperately she tried to convince everyone he did nothing to her that truly counted, to make them understand. He may be her guardian, but she’s as protective of him as he is of her. And I hope it may have helped him to see that she did not blame him for anything, but was so understanding and defended him so resolutely.
Thank you, and yes, that's it exactly. :)

And, to be honest, after all the trauma and distress she's felt in Helm's Deep let alone the lead up to it from Theoden's burial onwards, it's not really surprising she's been having bad dreams again.

Thanks for commenting and I'm so very glad you enjoyed it as much as you did. :)

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