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The Blessing  by Pearl Took 10 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/11/2007
I *knew* I should have asked you about this update on Sunday! It appears I forgot to implement my new procedure...

Well...it looks like Pippin's Worse, the poor lad! He's moody, sick, off-kilter. Maybe he'll eventually meet up with a Gondorian who has the same malady; that might help the wee fellow adjust better. I do hope Pip gets to feeling better soon!

You ladies are doing fabulous, as usual! If your time-frame has been off, I haven't noticed. I understand that you and Golden are doing your best to present quality fiction born from your brilliant imagination and professional knowledge, and the drama is excellent!

Author Reply: Oh, thank you, PF :-)

We are trying our best. We're most likely having him have more stuff all together than might be usual, but all of it are things that either the condition itself or the medications for it can cause.

Yes, he's having a rough go of it. I don't know who he might meet - but that would be good. It was something I had planned for earlier but it ended up not fitting where I had thought to put it.

Thank you, m'dear!

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/8/2007
No need for apologies. The story is too well-written and too tense to even give more than a glancing thought to the 'quick' side-effects. Plung on, dear heart, this reader is thoroughly encompassed in the tale.

And I really like this phrase... Companions of the Ring!

Bless you!

Author Reply: I'm sorry I'm so late replying to this, Agape. I thought I had.

Thank you so much for the encouragement :-)

That phrase is the Professor's (ROTK - *The Steward and the King* - "In those days the Companions of the Ring dwelt together in a fair house with Gandalf, and the went to and fro as they wished." [capitalization is Tolkien's])

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/7/2007
Oh dear!

"Better or Worse", that's indeed a good question. The medicament helped with the blank spells and the fits, but the side effects?

On the other hand, Aragorn and Parsow are well-trained healers. They know what they do, don't they?

Next time I just might puke all over His Royal Striderness.

*Grins* Pippin feels bitter, but at least he has not entirely lost his sense of humour! There's still hope...

Author Reply: Hi Andrea :-)

There's always hope - at least in any story I write ;-)

They know what they are doing, and so does another . . .

This is leading to something specific so bear with us.

Thank you so much :-)

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/7/2007
O my. I'm all for moving quickly, if it means improvement.

Good for Merry!

Author Reply: Hi m'dear Lindelea!

We've one more really rough spot to go through, then things will be looking up with occasional, more minor, setbacks. I hope you can hang in there with us :-)

Thank you so much for staying with this!

TelpethoronReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/7/2007
Talk about going from the frying pan to the fire. Pippin has gotten rid of one set of problems, only to find himself with another. To top it off, his mood is becoming increasingly bitter. This doesn't bode well for him when they return to the Shire, unless things start to improve.

At least Aragorn and Parsow did the right thing in keeping Pippin informed about what would happen, even though he seems to be taking it the wrong way. Better that, I suppose, than for them to say nothing and Pippin to be left wondering why everything is going from bad to worse.

Good of Parsow to be keeping a diary on Pippin - it makes sense to keep track of what each medication is doing, so that they can adjust as necessary.

Great work, both of you. I look forward to seeing the next chapter!

elanor winterflowersReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/6/2007
Ah, poor Pippin! And I sense Merry is beginning to share his anger and fear that this might never come right. Finding the proper combination of medicines can be a long, discouraging road, very hard on one's spirit; but when it's found the sun will come out again and things will look much more hopeful.

I am very much caught up in Pippin's mood; you are doing a wonderful job of keeping us close to him and how he is reacting to all of this. Really nice work!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/6/2007
Oh dear! *sigh* What's worse than the physical side-effects is the effect this is having on our dear Pip's sunny personality! Poor dear!

But I'm glad that they did tell him, at least.

Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower!

I really thought they had best tell him this time. The poor lad is having a rough go of it, but it will get better eventually.

Thank you so much :-)

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/6/2007
Oh dear, well things aren't exactly what everyone was hoping for. I actually feel quite badly for Aragorn and Parsow. It would be terrible to have to always be the bearers of such news and difficulties. I was glad to see that Legolas and Gimli have been present off and on to observe Pippin, nice to hear a line or bit from them once in a while. Poor Pippin, I hope things improve for him which I'm fairly certain you two wouldn't leave him sour towards his lot in lie. Lookin forward to more and finding out how the Companions manage things now! Thank you for the great read!

Author Reply: Greetings Hai!

No, the light hasn't broken through quite yet. Thank you for the notice of a bit more of the Elf and Dwarf :-) I've a lot of characters in this and it's hard to remember to give everyone some time.

I promise a positive and up-looking ending - whenever it is we get there :-)

Thank you for reading, Hai :-)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/6/2007
Different drugs and combinations will react differently, and often will have faster negative effects on some than on others. And with a Hobbit's unique metabolism compared to Men the reactions could be very different for each.

I feel for Pippin, both with the frustration of the effects of the condition and the further frustration regarding the effects of the meds! And I certainly appreciate the bitter toast he makes!

Author Reply: Thank you so much, Larner!

There is a real struggle going on. But our hobbits are strong :-)

Yes, the drug issues are an important part of what those with epilepsy face, so we wanted to deal with them.

Glad you're reading and enjoying.

Garnet TookReviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/6/2007
I was thrilled to see an update to this so soon.

Poor Pippin. This is one of those cases where the cure, or the treatment, is as bad as the ailment. Is his irritability a side-effect of the medicne, or is it just his frustration about his condition?

Hope you can update as quickly as you did this time.

You all are doing a gret job.

Author Reply: Hi dear Garnet,

For now, at least, the writing is going well :-)

The irritability and aggression are side effects of the medication. I really don't know that the herbals would behave like the modern anti seizure medicines, but we are modeling our good results and the side effects both off of the modern drugs. Aggressive behaviour was listed for a few of the drugs and we thought it would make for an interesting study since hobbits in general and Pippin in particular are usually cheerful.

I'm working on a speedy update :-)

Thank you so much :-)

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