PSW · 16 September 2016 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
Well...yes, that is seriously sad. Poor Folco... :-(
For Folco by Dreamflower
Reviews (15)
harrowcat · 13 January 2016 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
I meant to add... Does your Estella feel guilty about being the one who let Folco go to the market?
harrowcat · 13 January 2016 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
'Sniff' This is so sad but necessary to your universe. that flute is a wonderful talisman. One of the things I continue to marvel at is how every event in LOTR is necessary to the downfall of Sauton. Even the bad works to the good of the whole.
Eirinn Leigh · 2 August 2015 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
It's interesting to read all the different interpretations of why Falco wasn't included in the conspiracy. The last line was the perfect ending to clinch the tone and feeling of this piece.
EstellaB · 23 April 2006 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
This is really sad... *sobs* But very beautiful...
Author's reply
It is sad, but I am glad you think it is beautiful. All I know is that once the story idea came to me, that Folco might have been killed by ruffians, it wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it.
trishette · 12 April 2006 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
Just so you know, the chapters appear to be a bit out of order... the epilogue is currently chapter 2
Author's reply
Thanks for the heads up, trishette, dear! All fixed now. I don't know why older fics will do that sometimes, all by themselves seemingly...
Gryffinjack · 2 December 2005 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
"While not as close to him as Freddy, Folco had been a dear friend. And Fredegar and Folco had been as close as he and Pippin. He thought of how close he and Pippin had come on so many occasions to losing one another on the Quest." I don't even want to *think* about that! This story was an excellent illustration of the close relationship between Merry and Pippin. It's painful enough to read about it when it is Freddy and Folco; it would have been totally unbearable if either Merry or Pippin (or Frodo or Sam) had died because of the cursed Ring and its long reach. Very poignant angsty story. You have a gift of making enriching the understanding your readers have of the relationships and importance of everything that happened.
Gryffinjack · 2 December 2005 · Chapter 2
How awful! No wonder Freddy is so scarred by what happened. I've read this before, but it got me mad all over again. Hang Lotho! And Ted Sandyman, too - he deserved what he got in On the Road to Edoras! Folco was such a sweet hobbit, even though he made a regular habbit of putting his furry foot in his mouth. And that flute - what a perfect choice of musical instrument for him, it just suits him. "It had a wonderful sweet tone." So did Folco.
Author's reply
Lotho and Sandyman deserved every bit of what they got--just not at the hands of Freddy or other hobbits. It was far better that they fell victim to the very thing they brought on others. I am glad that Folco's sweetness comes across, in spite of his big mouth. And I am so glad everyone likes the flute, as well. Thank you!
Gryffinjack · 2 December 2005 · Chapter 1
You know, I am sorry to say I don't get the joke. How is Lotho a bottom feeder? Typical Folco - not being careful and wise about what he says and to whom during such dangerous times. Folco's sweet, but doesn't think. How petty of Lotho to hold Folco's offer to give a loan to Frodo against him! Unfortunately, it fits in perfectly with loathesome Lotho's personality. And Ted Sandyman is just as petty and vindictive, still holding a grudge about a story told about a miller. I can see folks thinking that Lotho's gang had "taken care" of the four travellers. Everyone knew that Frodo and the S.B.'s did not like each other at all and for Frodo to up and sell Bag End to them and pretend he didn't have any money, well, there had to be some reason behind it. Lotho's intimidation would make sense. And with Lotho's newfound power, it would also make sense for him not to stop at getting Bag End and to get rid of Frodo and those closest to him.
Author's reply
It's a take on an ancient joke about unscrupulous lawyers and catfish. Since carp are also bottom feeders, I appropriated them. Lotho is a bottom feeder in that he is unscrupulous in his dealings and in taking advantage of others. I'm not sure Folco himself quite "got" the joke, but he knew Merry and Pippin usually got a laugh out of Frodo with it, so he repeated it. Unfortunately with his usual bad timing. It was inevitable that he offend Lotho. I understood that as far back as "Conspiracy", but I resisted the bunny as long as I feasibly could. It seemed to me that to hobbits in other parts of the Shire, when they heard of "Big Men" attacking Crickhollow would immediately jump to that conclusion, having no experience to speak of, of Black Riders. The more sinister explanation would never have occured to any of them. But the Bucklanders, who had seen and heard the Black Rider's invasion first-hand would *know* those were no creatures of Lotho's.
Gryffinjack · 2 December 2005 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Merry didn't know that Folco had died? It must be hard for the four hobbits to catch up on everything they missed while they were away - so many changes. I'm looking forward to reading the story, even though it is sad.
Author's reply
Not until that moment. So much had happened while they were gone--and I'm sure that no one actually *wanted* to tell such sad news, and so everyone assumed someone else had told them.
PIppinfan1988 · 16 July 2005 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
Wow….my heart goes out to Folco…and Freddy. (sniff) I know these characters are fictitious, but I can see how these sweet hobbits come to own you. Such a sad tale, however, I see how Folco’s death is the catalyst that spurs Freddy into action. Good old Fredegar! Pippinfan
Author's reply
Yes, so now you know the whole story. I think you can see how Folco's fate was rooted in his personality--it was inevitable that he would say something to tick Lotho off, and that Lotho would use his newfound power to take his revenge. And now you know what I meant about not being able to use Freddy until I dealt with Folco.
trishette · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
Folco? Dead? Thanks for the rec on the Yahoo!group.,. I'm not a crier but this nearly moved me to tears. =o(
Author's reply
The idea hit me when I was doing "Conspiracy of Hobbits"--with Folco's talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, he was bound to tick off Lotho. And it would account for why mild-mannered easy-going Fatty turned into a leader of the rebels. I *liked* Folco, so I resisted the plot bunny for a long time, but when I started "Reckoning" I realized that unless I dealt with Folco, I couldn't use Fredegar as a character. So I *had* to write the story. I'm still sad about it myself.
GamgeeFest · 15 May 2004 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
Oh, that was so sad! Poor Folco! I'm seriously about to cry. *goes and gets kleenex* Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lotho got too big for himself, hiding behind his ruffians, and Ted did likewise hiding behind Lotho. Of all the villians in LOTR, it's those two I can't stand the most. They're just cowards really. Folco was the sweetest hobbit ever, he didn't deserve that. Does Fatty still have his flute? I would imagine he'd hang to it for dear life, if he was allowed to.
Author's reply
I'm glad someone else shares my opinion of Lotho and Sandyman. I think they were worse in a way than Saruman or the Ringwraiths or Gollum, because they did not even have the excuse of being corrupted by the Ring. They betrayed their own people for no other reason than power and petty vengeance. Yes, Fatty still has the flute.
Pervinca · 11 May 2004 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
Oh, so sad! But beautifully and tenderly written. I can see that Fredegar would definitely have good reason to rebel if Lotho and his ruffians did that to his dearest friend. I always did wonder what happened to Folco ever since he went home after lunch from Bag-End, and even though a year of death isn't given for him, I think your conclusion makes perfect sense. - Pervinca
Author's reply
Like I said, I really didn't want to do it, but as you said the conclusion makes perfect sense, and once it had occurred to me, I could not get rid of it. With the personality he had, of always saying the wrong thing, there was no way he could have survived the Occupation without insulting the wrong person.
Grey Wonderer · 10 May 2004 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue
This gives so much meaning to Fredegar's actions with the efforts to rid the Shire of the ruffians. You warned me that when you wrote your Falco/Fredegar story, it would be sad and it was. It was heart-breaking to think of the loss that Fredegar had suffered, but it was a beautiful story and I am glad that you decided to write it. It reflects so well all of the innocence lost in the war of the Ring because poor Falco was such an innocent. It did make me wonder what Fredegar did with the flute. I wondered if he'd kept it or buried it with Falco. Very touching story and another wonderful addition to your insight into Fredegar's character.
Author's reply
I really did not want to write this one. It popped into my head when I was doing Conspiracy, and would not go away. Somehow it just seemed inevitable that Folco, with his penchant for saying the wrong thing, would fall afoul of Lotho. And it gave Fredegar his motivation for leading the rebels. But I am not one for lots of angst. I prefer it in moderation, and I had got very fond of Folco myself. But the story just would not leave me alone, and it was getting in the way of Reckoning. Sigh. I'm going to miss Folco. :(