Enjoyed the re-counting of the slaying of the Troll and Cado's reaction to it all. Could it be that he is having a small change of heart in all of this or is he simply very glad that he was never crushed by a Troll?
Author's reply
It's too soon to tell whether any changes might be for the good. But he is definitely beginning to learn that the world is more than the Shire, and that the acclaim Merry and Pippin won while they were gone did not come easy. He has a lot to think about, is all.
For now.
Larner
· 11 April 2005
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Am hopefully on the way to catching up. Nice entry into Bree and the Prancing Pony. Feel sorry for Lotho's co-conspirators, but not too sorry for them--they did ask for it, after all.
Author's reply
Yes, they did ask for it. Well, not for exactly what they got. I don't think it occurred to them they would get caught, and if they did, they probably only expected temporary banishment. They had no idea that they'd be turned over to King's Justice. But the Shire-folk are going to have to learn that merely putting malefactors over their border and forgetting about them is no longer acceptable, for then they are just giving their problems to another part of the kingdom. This is part of what Frodo had in mind when he suggested to Paladin that they turn the traitors over.
Which was the "worse" brother, Clovis or Cado? I'm too lazy to go back and look, but since you would know and usually reply to reviews anyways...
It was excellent to let another hobbit hear how great his future thain is!
Author's reply
*chuckle* well, they were both pretty dire, weren't they? But Clovis is the older one with the ideas: you know, like knock Pippin down with a ball,steal from the Thain's wine cellar, dare Pippin to get drunk, vandalize the Men's camp and knock one of them out...you know, "brilliant" ideas like that. *grin* And Cado is the one who usually goes along with his brother's "brilliant" ideas because he's too lazy to argue, and then blames him when they go wrong.
Mosco is not as well acquainted with Pippin, and does not know Merry really well,either, even though they are cousins. But, like many another young hobbit in the Shire, he's had a case of hero-worship for them both ever since the Scouring. Hearing first hand just how hard it was for the two of them to come by their hard won heroism has to be an eye opener.
GamgeeFest
· 11 April 2005
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Hahaha, they didn't even let him get a noise out before gagging him! Lovely. Cute fluffiness between Berilac and Ivory. Is another apprentice about to be swept off her feet? I liked the way he tried to be sly about asking if Ivory was involved with Pippin.
Author's reply
Well, Pippin *was* observed dancing quite a bit with her during the Ball. If the Banks brothers had not pulled their stunt, he might have shown a bit more interest, but after that everyone was far too busy. So as far as Viola's concerned, her loss was Diamond's gain. But I did want to show Pippin's preference for healer lasses pre-dated his meeting of Diamond.
And of course, Berilac would not want to step on Pippin's toes for any number of reasons.
On the road, how exciting! It will be interesting to see if anything comes of Viola and Berilac. I know you just wrote another story about a healer's apprentice getting married, it would be really crazy if you wrote two!
Author's reply
We will just have to see, won't we?
Bodkin
· 10 April 2005
· Chapter 4: Chapter 4
H'mm. Berilac and Viola, huh? Seems a good combination. And, after these adventures they will have a lot in common.
Clovis is one of the slowest learners going, though. Although I suppose the other banished hobbits are benefiting from observing his general stupidity and how it is treated.
I can't work out whether Poppy will get the chance to see Lord Elrond and Imladris. I hope she does.
And I'm sure the tummies of the Rohirrim and Gondorians are very glad that the hobbits don't scorn the skills of the kitchen. They can even make porridge a treat. And I always like seeing them do things like go off and forage - it emphasises that being small doesn't make them helpless.
I'm looking forward to their adventures.
Author's reply
Well, Berilac and Viola have a long journey ahead of them, but let us just say that the little conversation they had is the beginning of a long-simmering plot thread for this sequel. We will just have to see what comes of it.
Clovis simply has no will-power. He can resist anything except temptation, and the temptation to run his mouth is a strong one. He's definitely not the brightest bulb in the pack either.
That's because *I* haven't worked it out myself. It won't be in *this* story, though, because it only goes as far as Meduseld.
The skills of even a poor hobbit cook are far better than those of even the average cook of Men.
I've always felt that foraging would be a strong point of most hobbits, like anything else to do with food.
I was glad to see another chapter of this one. I like Viola and I do believe that Berilac does also. Seems there might be a bit of romance on this journey. Freddy is doing a great job of keeping up with what to expect. He seems to have become almost as much of a natural leader as Merry is. I am still expecting trouble from the Banks's at this point, but the gag is working out very well. LOL
Author's reply
Mmm-hmm; I think you've spotted it! *grin*
Freddy *was* the leader during the Rebellion during the Occupation, and he is from one of the high ranking Shire families. (In my Shire, the Bolgers rank fourth, directly behind the Bagginses.) He is definitely taking his responsiblity for all these hobbits seriously--he wants to make sure he gets everyone home safely.
Keep on expecting--you know it *will* happen before the end, but I do not promise how soon!
I wish I could travel with hobbits. Sounds like good eats!
Author's reply
Good eats indeed! I imagine that some of the Men are going to need their armor altered, LOL!
Kitty
· 4 April 2005
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
She nodded. These Men had some very strange customs. Why not just use coin to begin with? Ah, well. Perhaps that was too simple.
*lol*
Of course, the Men have no plain Hobbit sense ;-)
Poor Viola, this is not so easy for her. She is the only one Hobbit who is not truly on her own free will on her way to Gondor (with exception of the prisoners, of course). It is surely quite frightening at times.
Author's reply
*chuckle* Well, of course there are some practical reasons for the chits, but they are not immediately obvious to hobbits, who have no experience of armies.
Yes, Viola has felt constrained by her ties to her mistress, not to mention the fact that she is the most typically "hobbity" hobbit in the group, as well as being a lass. But she loves her mistress, and she does want to be a good healer. She will find a way to overcome her timidity as time goes by.
Bodkin
· 4 April 2005
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
The Men are determined to protect the Hobbits, aren't they. Just in case. It must be very tempting for them to treat adult hobbits as being younger and more helpless than they are - size being so linked with maturity in the eyes of men. And yet, there is also an innocence about the wider world that means that they do need shielding.
Like the immediate recognition of a good fruit and veg stall (hobbit-run, of course). And the break for lunch. Viola's need to remain close to safety is very recognisable, too - and Poppy will probably look back on it wistfully once the girl really finds her feet and starts heading off into the unknown.
Glad to see Clovis has been silenced.
Author's reply
Well, there is even a bit more to the protectiveness to that, in my way of thinking. I have a theory that the *majority* of hobbits have something about them that will actually *trigger* the protective instincts of the majority of Big Folk, and cause them to become fond of them very quickly. I think of it as an unconscious defense mechanism working in hobbits' favor. It's a sort of special charisma they have, and certain hobbits, such as Frodo and his cousins, have more than others. If you look at the reactions of most Big Folk to the hobbits in LotR, you can see that there is evidence of a sort for it: how quickly Strider pledges his allegiance to Frodo in Bree; the reactions of them all on Caradhras, for example; Boromir's fierce defense of Merry and Pippin; the Three Hunters' determination to rescue the younger hobbits once they realize the Ringbearer is out of reach; Faramir's admiration for Frodo and Sam upon very short acquaintance; Eowyn's willingness to take Merry along...I could go on and on...
The converse side of this is that a *few* hobbits, such as the S.-B.s, Sandyman, the Bankses and Hyacinth, for example, are defective in that they *lack* this charisma altogether.
Anyway, off of my soapbox for now, and thanks for the lovely review!
So now the Bree hobbits have a bit of gossip! At least they will be able to recognize the prisoners should they escape at any point and try to make a life in Bree. I think Dago is thinking along those lines even if the Banks group is not. Poppy seems to be doing quite well in all of this and I do hope that Viola gets used to things.
Author's reply
I think the merchants and other folk of Bree are going to have plenty to gossip about by the time the party of King's folk leaves. Dago's mind is working, true. But I think he realizes that Bree would be too soon to make a break--they are too close to the Shire still.
Actually, Poppy is the most adventurous of all the hobbits who are going, with the possible exception of Jolly. It was her own idea to go, and her motives are her own as well. Freddy volunteered to get away from memories of Folco for a while; Berilac out of hero-worship for his cousins; Rolly and Denny were basically volunteered by their shrewd old father; Mosco offered to go out of a sense of protectiveness for Poppy; and Viola simply because she's Poppy's apprentice. I think that Poppy might have planned to go south even if there had been no other hobbits going. Once she had made use of athelas and of the ointment Aragorn had made for Frodo, once she had seen the extent of the injuries Pippin had survived, she was bound to want to know more.
As timid as Viola is, she has pluck, and her fondness for her mistress will help. And she will gradually have another motive as well...
I got the story alert for this one and came over to find that I had two chapters to read! This one is just wonderful. I love Bergil's protective way with the hobbits. I also love that he is looking out for them because they are Pippin's relatives. Loved the idea of the gagging of the prisoners! The hobbits taking over the cooking was great too. Off to read the next chapter!
Author's reply
Bergil, indeed, all the Men--will feel very protective of the hobbits as time goes on--it's the way of hobbits after all to make that happen. But Bergil has an extra reason to feel that way, and his fondness for Pippin definitely colors his motives.
I love the idea of gagging Clovis. He's starting to irritate me.
And was there any doubt the hobbits would take over the cooking? LOL!
GamgeeFest
· 3 April 2005
· Chapter 3: Chapter 3
"Perhaps that was too simple. "
Loved that. Hobbits are so used to doing things practically. But I'm sure the Men have a good reason for using the chits. They don't want to take too much money into town with them. At camp they can gaurd it better and then, as Poppy discovered, they can get their purchases delivered to them instead of carry them back.
Clovis is gagged! But we didn't get to see it happen. *pouts*
Author's reply
Yes, you have it figured out exactly. Poppy is a pretty smart person, but she is still not quite used to the way things are different outside the Shire.
Well, it won't be the last time it happens, trust me, LOL!
Bodkin
· 2 April 2005
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Mistress Poppy and her apprentice can take on cooking duties for the day and let the men know what they are missing, but I hope she's too strong-minded to get herself pushed into taking on too many cooking duties!
Clovis. Well, he deserves to be called Clovis is all I will say.
Anyone would be right to feel nervous if Gimli was fingering his axe at them in that way. And and elven stare to boot.
Cado and Clodio are not so bad - they're stupid and greedy, but they're more sheep than wolf - but Clovis and Dago need watching. They'd sacrifice their grandmothers for an advantage.
Gagging them could be effective. Blindfolding them could be handy, too. And somehow, I'm not sorry to hear of their saddle sores.
Author's reply
Oh, all the hobbits except the prisoners are going to get to cook, as you will soon see.
*snort*
Yes, I would imagine having Gimli and Legolas giving them the eye will certainly dampen their spirits further than they are already.
Clodio is stupid and greedy, Cado is not so stupid, but he doesn't have enough backbone to stand up to his brother most of the time, and when he does, it's just out of fear of other consequences. Dago and Clovis--well, you are definitely right about them.
GamgeeFest
· 31 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
I love that the hobbits took over cooking from the Men. Very typical of them. And the image of Clodio gagged is a nice one to end the chapter with, even if it hasn't happened yet. Fun chapter.
Author's reply
Yes, well, if they don't want porridge for every breakfast, they pretty much had to, LOL!
I'm looking forward to the gag, myself.
When I first discovered this site, your story 'A New Reckoning' was the first one I ever read, so I'm delighted you're doing a sequel. Your hobbits really come to life, and I like the fact that poor old Freddy gets some quality time in the tale.
Author's reply
Oh, then I am so glad you are pleased with the start to this one. I just think Fredegar deserves his chance to shine.
nightsky
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
Glad to see you continuing this. You've created a very interesting and well-detailed universe. Looking forward to the rest of it, and meeting Aragorn and Faramir!
Author's reply
Thanks! I'm still "discovering" things about "my" version of M-e, and the characters I write about. It's fascinating and endless, and I am glad you enjoy the results of the process.
Kitty
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
*grins*
Truly, Eóthain is quite a practical thinking man. Maybe Clovis is at last intelligent enough to notice the gagging goes on for one more hour every time. But I fear the prisoners will cause some problems along the long way to Edoras.
And I am sure Freddy will grow with his new role as leader of the delegation over the time, as probably all of the Hobbits will do. It will be interesting to watch this.
Poor Viola, she fears Bree? I wonder how she will react to Edoras or Gondor, which are probably much more intimidating. Bree at last is home to Hobbits, too.
Loved the bit about Butterbur forgetting letters to the Shire! They know very well why they fear this :-D It was nice Freddy and Beri could tell the men something about the Quest they didn't know before. It is good Freddy knows everything - maybe it will become useful sometimes.
Author's reply
Yes, I see the Rohirrim as being much more practical, and likely to ignore social niceties than the Gondorians. Clovis? Intelligent? In the same sentence? But he may get sick of having a dirty rag in his mouth.
All the hobbits on this journey have a time of learning and growth ahead of them. It is not as dire or dangerous as what Frodo and his friends went through, but for them, it will accomplish much.
Yes, I had a bit of fun with Butterbur. *grin*
TopazTook
· 28 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Chapter 2
I'm so glad you decided to write this story! (I know you had qualms about it when we readers were begging for the sequel to "A New Reckoning.") I usually don't particularly care for stories featuring the non-main LOTR hobbits, but this work is definitely an exception! I feel I have come to know all of your wonderful, gentle hobbits through your work.
In this chapter, I particularly liked Viola's fear of Bree...she's going to experience a lot more intimidating areas of Men than that, I should think; and Freddy and Beri getting a chance to be the knowledgeable ones who can share a story about the Quest when *they* tell the *Men* what happened at the Prancing Pony.
You have some interesting things going on with character development in what's going to happen to the different prisoners, too.
And...if you're taking requests:)...I'd love to see more of your sweet Bergil in this story.
Author's reply
I'm still somewhat skittish about it, but a promise is a promise, and I decided I had waited long enough. I'm glad you think well of "my" hobbits; it is very funny to contemplate, but when I wrote my very first fanfic, I was going to *avoid* OCs altogether, if you can believe that, LOL! Now I have several that I have grown quite fond of.
Viola is truly the most timid of all the hobbits who are going. She is mostly going out of her obedience to, and love for, her mistress. And she *does* want to learn more about healing. But she is not a hobbit who would naturally ever contemplate leaving the Shire, and as fond of the Men who came as she has grown, she still cannot help but recall the Ruffians. But there are a good many things that will happen to her during this experience.
Bergil definitely has a *major* part to play a bit further down the line. In the meantime, we will see as much of him as is feasible in such a large cast of characters.
I feel sorry for the Buckland Bankeses, suddenly having to get used to a new station with those other Bankses not helping any. Gagging should help, though. Still, I cannot help but wonder if they'll cause some sort of mischief before all is said and done.
Author's reply
This is a situation that Freddy could not have foreseen (but I did, *grin*) and is one of the first tests of his leadership. Eothain, being a very straightforward and practical sort, has come up with a solution that will definitely help.
And you are right to wonder. Though it might be a good deal further down the line before you begin to see it.
Bodkin
· 28 March 2005
· Chapter 1: Chapter 1
I am so looking forward to this story!
I see the nasty Bankses are causing trouble by their sheer existence. I hope young Denny grows in confidence and stops letting himself be intimidated by his new social standing. I'm sure he will.
I'm only surprised the hobbits haven't yet taken over culinary duties - I can't think that stodgy porridge is too appealing to a hobbit stomach. Give them time - they'll have the cooks trained. Six meals a day, chaps. And plenty of variation.
Can't wait for more.
Author's reply
*gring* I hope to have Chapter 2 up this evening if I am not too tired. I go to work today for the first time after being sick. I'm still not feeling 100%.
The Bankses are nasty peices of work, so of course they cause trouble by just existing.
As for the culinary duties, you know hobbits. Of course, porridge happens to be what the Men have in the supplies for breakfast, but I don't suppose it will be long before the hobbits come up with something.
GamgeeFest
· 27 March 2005
· Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Well, at least I got to read one chapter before classes start. :) Wonderful as always. This promises to be another great tale. You spend a little time with each character and in just a few sentences, manage to inform the reader exactly what each one of them is thinking and feeling about their journey. Well done!
Author's reply
Oh, goody! I'm glad you got the chance to start it, anyway. And maybe on weekends you can catch the updates.
I know that I tend to use various POVs in my longer tales. Some people don't like that, but I am glad that you do. Since I am writing these stories for fun, and I like to explore the various characters, I indulge myself.
I do imagine that it was hard on Denny and Rolly Banks. They had been taught to respect the head of their family and now here they are traveling with him as a prisoner. It woudl be a great deal to get used to. I also think that Freddy is feeling his responsibility in all of this as well. This is off to a great start! I am looking forward to much more.
Author's reply
One of the reasons their father had them take the trip was the hope that it would broaden their horizons and make their new role in life easier to undertake.
Freddy is definitely feeling his responsibilities. He's well aware of how much depends on him.
Grey Wonderer
· 27 March 2005
· Chapter 0: A recap of what has gone before, and a cast of characters
Now that was an excellent idea. I had forgotten the names of some of the Rohiriam involved. The list makes a great referal as the story goes onward. This should help everyone get up to speed on all of it. A very useful prologue!
Author's reply
I was thinking it might help. It's been a year since I started "A New Reckoning" and it was finished months ago, so I thought a refresher might not be out of place. And with so many characters, I thought a list might be handy as well. Glad you found it useful!
Mysterious Jedi
· 27 March 2005
· Chapter 0: A recap of what has gone before, and a cast of characters
I had been hoping you would write about the embassy. I hope to see more soon.