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Trials and Tribulation by Larner	34 Review(s)
Finafyr	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/24/2006
Bravo. I have shed many wonderful tears reading this story. You are as always a wonderful word smith. I do wonder what Frodo said and thought when Sam told him. (sigh) Author Reply: Thank you so much, Finafyr. I am honored this story moved you so. I couldn't touch on all the stories Sam shared with Frodo on his arrival on Tol Eressea in "Reunion," but am certain that Frodo was gladdened by what Sam could tell him of how his legacy to the Broadloams and to Tribbals in especial worked out.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/24/2006
The Hobbits really do show all the good qualities a small community can have, don't they? The system of bartering services for livestock really seems to work for them, because both bargainers can see the immediate, tangible result of their efforts. Greencap probably wouldn't have done so well with cash money, but the livestock are a different story. Frodo really saw that he had a great capacity to love and care for living beings. So, if Greencap received living beings in return for his storytelling efforts, he wouldn't squander them right away, but care for them until they could help his whole family become prosperous. Author Reply: Yes, the Shire has the best of both worlds, I think. And once again Frodo's own wisdom has given the Shire a national treasure it never expected to find amongst the junk of the Broadloam smial.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/24/2006
Yet another family that has been assisted, turned around and forever touched by Frodo Baggins. And each one of them touches others. It truly is love that makes the world go round. I am pleased to see that Tribbals was there to see Billigard adopted and looked after. Lovely story Larner a definite aw moment. Author Reply: Am so very glad you like it, Harrowcat. Yes, Frodo's love continues to touch others, and the yeast of his nature leavens the Shire long after he's left it, whether others realize it or not. This story was in the works long before Reunion was written, and so Tribbals had to have mention there; and now that story gets referenced here as well. So glad you like it!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/24/2006
"He needed his emptiness filled, and his scars healed. He needed his Light answered, and the shadows cleansed away. They can do that there, you see. The Powers can come near him there, and give him hope again, heal him." "And, Mer Sam--you see Mer Frodo, you tell him, tell him his love is still teached. You tell him." Oh Larner, I was absolutely weeping at the end of this chapter! I think you've surpassed yourself with this story -- such beauty and heart and simple, uncomplicated love. Author Reply: I am so very glad you like it, Shirebound. And love is what Hobbits embody so well, after all, when they're at their best. Thank you so much!

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/24/2006
Oh, Larner I love your OCs!! I know I've said it before, but I just love them! They're so real, so true to life! The Broadloams have reformed wonderfully under first Frodo's and then Sam's gentle but watchful eye, and how wonderful that Quince and Tribbals found a way to contribute. As she prepared to leave with her brother, Tribbals paused in the dooryard, looking in through the yellow door of Number Three where Lily Gardner sat with her new bairn in her arms, smiling as he nursed and relieved her of her burden of milk. The odd Hobbitess smiled as she climbed onto the cart’s bench. "Yeh," she said quietly, "Mer Frodo’s love’ll teach him as he teached you and you teached your childs. Good--very, very good." She put out her hand to stop Tito from chirruping to the pony pulling the trap, and looked down on Hamfast the Younger and his grandfather. "Him’s your child now--you teach him love real good. And, Mer Sam--you see Mer Frodo, you tell him, tell him his love is still teached. You tell him." And with a nod she indicated Tito should drive off, and the last sight Sam had of her was of her bent back, and the last he heard was her voice crooning, "It’s love, it’s love as makes the Sun rise high." Yes, Tribbals did the right thing here, and Billy will indeed be taught love, just as she wishes. I can imagine Frodo smiling as he is told how the little lass who was always so eager to make him feel better never forgot how he taught her and her family what it really means to love. "It's love, it's love that makes the sun rise high." Oh, that sounds like a song. I don't know much about Down's syndrome, and the two extremes I've seen in my life didn't help me much (one child very, very sweet, and one older boy extremely ill behaved), and this story, short as it is, has been educational. Tribbals is a gem, and one that won't soon be forgotten, I think. :) An absolutely beautiful little story, Larner, and one that will definitely go on my "to read again" list. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: The words came to me with the echo of the song, "It's love that makes the world go round." "It's love..." "It's girls..." "It's boys..." "It's dogs..." "It's cats..." "It's mice..." "It's cheese, it's cheese, it's cheese that makes the world go round, It's cheese, it's cheese, it's cheese that makes the world go round, It's cheese, it's cheese, it's cheese that makes the world go round, It's cheese that makes the world go round. Oh, rollin' over the billows, rollin' over the sea, Rollin' over the billows of the deep blue sea, Oh, rollin' over the billows, rollin' over the sea, Rollin' over the billows of the deep blue sea!" One of my favorite songs to sing with campers from my days as a counselor at 4-H camp.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/24/2006
Awww...sniffle This was so very lovely and sad and sweet. I adore the way you have the Shire full of people who loved Frodo and appreciated him, even if they didn't really understand him. And Tribbals is amazing. I'd love to see more of her. sigh Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamflower. Frodo must have posed so great a puzzle to so many who'd loved him, I'd think.

AspenJules	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/24/2006
Ah, Larner - I loved this. As others have said, the Broadloam men are hilarious, and Tribbals is delightful. I have also known one or two Down's children, and I agree - they are the most loving, cheerful children I have ever known. You portray her beautifully, especially her perceptiveness when it comes to Frodo's state of mind. I'd love to see her come back at what many might consider an inconvenient time... lol. Oh, and "We know as you don’t mean no insult by it," Guido assured those guarding the integrity of the room from this surfeit of Broadloams, was my favorite line. You have quite an enviable touch with OC's, Larner. I loved this. Author Reply: So glad the Broadloam males are giving so many a laugh; and I hope an indulgent one. They must have been a surprise and even a bit of a relief for Frodo, dealing with a situation that don't have to do with ruffians, gatherers and sharers, tree killers, fallen Hobbits and Wizards, and crooked lawyers. Now he can let his imagination and native compassion have scope. Thank you so much for the compliment. I very much appreciate it.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/24/2006
What imaginative sentences. I also loved the fact that Frodo remembered stories from him during his own worst times. Greencap is very astute and sees more than most. He gets to the heart of the matter quickly. I find that I do like your original characters. They make their personalities known and find their way into our hearts very quickly. Author Reply: I'd think that Frodo would work hard at finding consequences that were suited to bring out the best of those being judged, and that he'd do his level best to see them appropriate to the individuals. That he'd actually have to punish someone would be unlikely, I think. Greencap is in part the product of his environment, but he's not stupid, after all, and would realize another had been wounded and respond to that perception. Thank you so much for the lovely compliment. I find these folks are engraving themselves on my heart.

demeter d	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/24/2006
i have fallen in love with Mistress Tribbals. A "moon-touched child". i had not heard that term for them before. I have known quite a few Downs children in my half century. Almost always they are loving and accepting, and indeed, most can do quite a lot of surprising things. Frodo's judgement for the Broadlooms feels like it could be sandwiched in between the chapters you already have written in "An Acceptable Sacrifice". I would be very interested to see further adventures with this family. Reformed bad boys seem to make very good 'good guys" once they grow. It would be interesting to see the lads as grown-up Hobbits as part of a trade delegation to Gondor or other realms of men. They would be very good at spotting attempted treachery on the part of men! Author Reply: It was a bit difficult to think what the people of Middle Earth might call such a child. No one would think to call them "mongoloid"--the name from my childhood for them--as no one would be likely to know what the oriental peoples would look like. Nor would they be identified as having Downs Syndrome, as Downs hadn't been born, of course. Moon-touched just seemed apropos for the condition. And the idea of Torto and Tito reforming and becoming useful at spotting the perfidy of Men is a tempting one, although I've taken a different way with it. Thanks for the review, Demeter.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/23/2006
Oh, wow! Frodo's got his hands full, doesn't he. But I think this would make it worth putting up with the three Broadlomes... Frodo looked from mother to daughter, then at last stood and approached the lass and knelt down to look into her eyes. "You thought I looked sad?" he asked her. "Yeh," she said, nodding to make certain her meaning was clear. "And you wanted to cheer me up?" "Yeh," she said again. "And how will you cheer me up?" he asked. "Here," she said, holding out her arms, and she gave him as strong a hug as she could. "You fee’ better?" she asked. Frodo was touched. "Yes, Tribbals," he said. "Is it all right for me to call you Tribbals?" She smiled. "Yeh," she answered. Then she added, "I come ’gain, hug you when you need it." She spoke very slowly and carefully, doing her best to make her words clear. He smiled. "Then I’ll look forward to it." He caressed her lank hair. "I’ll be glad to see you any time you wish to come to the Council Hole." So this is Tribbals, eh? And isn't she just a sweetheart! :) I love her already. She reminds me of a little girl I knew once. Frodo again shows his true justice with the Broadlome lads and their father. I hope that he has that indescribable influence on them that he has had on others; they need it. "Now, you keep your side of the bargain and I’ll keep mine. And your daughter will sit on your lap before all to hear with the rest." "But why, Master Baggins, sir? Why let ’er see as how cruel the world is t’ those as is different?" "Do you love her? Are you proud of her?" Guido’s voice in response was almost derisive. "Well, o’ course!" "Then let your own love for her be seen by all. Let all others know it; and if they realize you love and respect her, they’ll realize they should treat her well, also. Yes, some like Lotho Sackville-Baggins are cruel and will remain cruel toward such as she no matter what; but those whose opinions mean the most will respond as you show the way. And she has as much right to hear the stories as all the other children do." Well, Greencap's intentions are good. But... though, as Frodo said, there are those who can be cruel, and also there are those who show pity or similar feelings in ways that make it really hard to be patient with them, sheltering is even more cruel, because no one can be sheltered for ever. Besides, what Frodo says about respect is true, and she lives among Hobbits, whose very nature, I think, is to be open-hearted, at least, Hobbits as a majority. Tribulation is a very unusual name, especially for a Hobbit child, but Quince shows herself to be very thoughtful and determined by giving such a name to her daughter. I think Tribbals will very likely always find a loving, supporting friend in her mother. I can't wait for the next chapter!!! :) God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Am so glad you like Tribbals, for I find her fascinating and reminiscent of a child I used to work with several years ago. My own students with Downs Syndrome were more profoundly disabled, although my current adult client is exceedingly capable and one I've come to admire a good deal. Frodo is capable of not only making the punishment fit the crime, but also of trying tactics intended to truly give the miscreant the chance for rehabilitation and redemption. He also knows how cruel the world can be, but also how we must brave that cruelty to bring out the goodness, and that the goodness will not be brought out if the perceived problem is hidden away. Greencap's intentions are good, but Frodo knows how to bring out the acceptance of his people, I think--or at least for others, if not for himself. Yes, Quince was the proper mother for this child. Irma Bombeck wrote one story in which the guardian angel for a child with a disability turned out to be the child's own mother, and that little essay has stuck with me since my own youth.

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