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| Truth by Lindelea | 47 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 9/23/2003 |
| Oh, now I'm really confused. I was positive it was Hodge who stole the chickens and planted the knife in the chicken coop. I figured he would give Frodo-lad a real scare, and then have some way to get him out of it at the last minute at the hearing. When he got left behind to watch the chickens, I wondered how he was going to let anyone know that Frodo didn't really do it. Now, I'm not sure about him at all. He seemed so sincere when he was talking to Goldi. He was apologetic, bashful and almost sweet to her: he sounded like he really didn't believe Frodo was capable of theft. Was that all an act? (He did manage to get in one dig on Rose.) Or if it wasn't Hodge, who was it? This whole 'prank' was done deliberately and with malice; the intent clearly was to do more than discredit Frodo. He could be banished for this, or at the least put under permanent ban! I want to know who was responsible! (And I want to know if I'm guilty of prejudging Hodge.) Boy, you sure know who are your real friends when trouble arrives. Half the Shire is gleefully gossiping, having convicted Frodo before the trial and ready to destroy Sam and the rest of the family with him as quickly as possible. But there are a few who believe in Frodo-lad's integrity, including the innkeeper, and Daisy Burrows, her mom and da. It's good to know Frodo has a few who will stand by him. But even if they want to support him, a judgement against Frodo by the Thain will be carried out, whether it be banishment or shunning. He's got to be scared to death. By the way, I loved the aside about lasses weeping over the demise of easy-on-the-eyes Merry or Pippin. It made me giggle, even in the midst of the tension. There's always something like that to look forward to in your stories. You have so many great ideas! Author Reply: I know, I had a lot of the same feelings as you when the story was in the works. The outline actually called for Hodge to be the culprit, allowing Frodo to go off and be tried, never dreaming he'd be found guilty, only wanting to cause him the maximum embarassment and inconvenience. And then... the story wrote itself in another direction. Guess we'll never know how Hodge would have reacted. Thanks for the kind words. I'm actually feeling a little apprehensive about the angst in "Runaway". Whenever I write angst, I worry that it is "over the top". I almost "chickened out" and cut the story short, with a neat and sweet ending. You'll have to let me know what you think when we get to those chapters in that story. (Please do.) | |
| Miriel | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 9/23/2003 |
| *Sigh* The plot thinkens...can I say again how much I missed your updates? Poor, poor, Frodo... Hmm...Hodge and Godi...*Shudder* at least we know that it would never come to be, but it makes for a very interesting plot. I liked the lasses weeping when they thought Merry and Pippin had been killed. I hope you update soon! Author Reply: Amazing. I just discovered that SoA sends the author's reply to the reviewer. What a website! It's nice to know I was missed. Hodge and Goldi... you know, it is not so far-fetched. If Sam were not Mayor, they'd be of the same class, socially, whereas Faramir would be far out of Goldi's reach, with her parents being so conventional and class-conscious. Here comes that update you were waiting for. | |
| Miriel | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/15/2003 |
| Sigh...surely someone would have thought to have questioned Frodo...or Merry and Pippin. *Crosses fingers* Ferdi and the Thain will work it out...right? Author Reply: Well, they ought to have, but Sam headed that off pretty well when he said that they wouldn't take the knife without asking... and it was a few days ago, so Frodo forgot about loaning it to Merry (I do that all the time), and Merry forgot about borrowing it. You know how when you absent-mindedly lay something down, you might never find it again unless you run across it again later? And if someone else has picked it up, you might never find it again or remember what happened to it... Sorry to say, computer is going in the shop. No updates for a week, unless I can somehow borrow access to a computer or something, but who's going to let me sit and write for an hour or two, or format a chapter and upload it to the internet... and not converse? Only my family puts up with such behaviour. Author Reply: I posted this reply at fanfiction net but don't know if you read there or here, so I'm adding it in here. The way the justice system seemed to work itself out in these stories (I think the first hearing I ever wrote was in “Flames”), the accused has the last word, but is not allowed to speak until the witnesses have finished testifying against him. This fits in with the idea of “guilty until proven innocent”, which would have been the mindset in the Old Country. Since the testimony of more than one witness is required to convict, and it would be unlikely for hobbits to conspire against another hobbit, false charges would not be common in the Shire. Frodo’s case has been carefully crafted by malice and forethought on the part of someone with an axe to grind, even to providing more than one witness to testify against him based upon planted evidence. One exception to this “more than one witness” rule would be if the Thain chose to abuse his power, he could convict someone without due process (see “Flames”, and Paladin unjustly placing Ferdi under the Ban without recourse or appeal), though being a hobbit, this is unlikely. | |
| Miriel | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/15/2003 |
| Oh no! I knew that was coming, but still... I certainly hope that someone remembers who the knife was lent to- and soon! | |
| Samwisegirl12 | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/14/2003 |
| Oh, gosh...I've read this before, but I never noticed when Sam said "Don't thank me, thank the one you're named for." That line almost me me cry!!!!!! Sam seemed to have changed in this story at first. He seemed to care more about status than he usually did, as did Pippin, but I see that they're just doing what's expected for them. Poor Sam!! He's really suffering inside after Frodo left for the havens!! Good job, Lindelea! I can't wait for updates!! Author Reply: Thanks, Samwisegirl! I appreciate your taking time to review. It is difficult, living in a tradition-bound society, to break out of the mould. Even the Thain must live within the constraints dictated by tradition, for the most part... People surely can make your life uncomfortable if you go outside the bounds of their expectations, can't they? | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/11/2003 |
| I was afraid of something like this. Five hens and a rooster are missing. Linden got two months under the ban for breaking 6 mugs of beer with a joke taken too far, so who knows how severe punishment would be for this? Stealing or destroying a "good citizen's" personal property and family's foodsource, with what could be construed as deliberate malace bordering on harassment: it's not like raiding the mushroom field. It seems here in the shire, there's no warrant needed for arrest, and no presumption of innocence, so Frodo may just well be hauled right to Tuckborough. How will he plead his defense? First of all, he doesn't have the knife - he lent it to his brother, and it was lost. If they are lucky, his brother will remember the last time he saw it was in the vicinity of the mill - anyone could have it. Secondly, what happened to the chickens? They have to be around somewhere. They didn't go into the stew pot at Bag End - I am sure many from the family could testify to that, and there is precedence for allowing family testimony. If they were killed but not eaten, Hodge would have to be more clever than I give him credit for to implicate the Gamgees by stashing the carcasses somewhere on Bag End property. Eru forbid he just added them to the Bag End chicken coop, so that they could be found just by opening the door. No - someone would have noticed a second rooster, and even Bag End can't have so many chickens that five more wouldn't be commented on. Wait - Robin's never counted them. Oh no. Frodo's in trouble now. Author Reply: Thanks for the comments! Had no time to write author notes before i posted over at ffnet, but just wanted you to know I got this review and digested it. "Deliberate malice bordering on harassment", nice turn of phrase, I hadn't thought of that. You're right about the Shire, they are old-fashioned about these things, i.e. a suspect is "guilty until proven innocent" Nice guesses about the chickens. Your questions will be answered in chapter 10. | |
| Miriel | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/11/2003 |
| Oh no! They should know better than to trust any Sandyman...Grr. I knew that there would be trouble as soon as Frodo lent out his knife. Can't wait to see how this plays out! (Along with Faramir and Goldi!!) Author Reply: Poor Sandyman, to have to live with such a reputation. "A good name is better than gold". Thanks for reviewing! | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 9/6/2003 |
| I'm betting it's Hodgie Sandyman who's found the knife. I wonder what kind of nasty thing he's thought up to do with it. The last line suggested to my son that he might actually throw it at Frodo, but that doesn't seem very likely. Probably he'll use it to get up some mischief, and have Frodo blamed for it. Of course, since Frodo lent it to his brother, perhaps Merry will get in trouble instead. Two other interesting things are going on in this chapter. The Gamgee boys, or at least Frodo, are beginning to be known as Gardeners. It always seemed a little strange to me that only one generation after Samwise Gamgee returns to the Shire as hero, his family changes its surname. Sam was known for a lot of things, including being seven times Mayor and being one of the Travellers. Was his tree-planting the only thing he was truly honored for in the Shire? Wouldn't surprise me too much, given the way Frodo was ignored. The other interesting thing is that others in the family are beginning to notice the absence of Faramir, if only in a vague way. Sam and Rosie are against Farry and Goldi's relationship. Frodo-lad is just an interfering busybody (OK, an overprotective brother). Will Goldi find some allies amongst other members of her family? Will they notice her sadness, or question her about Farry, or overhear a converstation? Could falling in love himself even cause Frodo-lad to have some sympathy? I think an old-fashioned conspiracy is in order. Could we bring a Brandybuck into it, just for old times sake? (One other thing I noticed. Merry laughs a lot. That's cute.) | |
| Hai | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 9/6/2003 |
| Oh, dear, Frodo is going to catch it hot I'm thinking when he leant something to his brother! Oh, dear! Looking forward to finding out what happens! Thank you! | |
| Miriel | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/3/2003 |
| Poor Goldi! Its almost torture to read about the happenings of others but her situation xtays the same. *Sigh.* Can hardly wait for the next chapter! Author Reply: I know, she probably thinks she'll end an old maid... | |