Reviews (86)

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Woohoo! So good to hear from you. :)

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Hello! JRRT left some tantalizing clues to the Tooks that lend themselves to seeing them as a pocket of organized resistance, and that the longer they resisted, the greater the pressure on them grew, first from Lotho and then Saruman himself. (Freddy and his raiders were another, and I’ve imagined a red-haired Robin Hood-type character in the Northfarthing as well, though I’ve only barely mentioned him.) It has been interesting to imagine how they kept Men out, also remembering that Pippin returned to Bywater with 100 archers (if I’m remembering right; typing on my phone at the moment and too lazy to get up and look it up), all that Paladin could spare as he was leading another body of archers to scour out the ruffians in another area. If 100 was “to spare”, how many did Paladin have marching with him on that occasion, I wonder? Thank you for coming along on this journey and taking time to leave a good word!

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Thank you! The Professor provided so much scope for the imagination with the tantalizing hints he dropped here and there into his main story. I love to hear what you love! :) I appreciate your stopping to leave a word of encouragement.

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Lotho certainly had a lot to answer for, and he ultimately paid with his life. Be careful what you wish for seems an apt idiom in his case. One of the wee hobbits was very upset about the farmer's dogs - do you suppose the dogs might have followed the family across the fields, skulking and hiding from the ruffians, to the Tookland, all the way to the courtyard of the Great Smials, and avoided capture by anyone there until the family were released from their confinement and ventured outside, only to have the dogs streak into the yard from out of nowhere for a joyous reunion? (Sheepdogs are highly intelligent, but can they follow a trail by smell, I wonder?) Thanks! Author Reply: (not that they would necessarily have to follow a trail by smell, if they were following, 'skulking and hiding', of course) Author Reply: And what about the cats? Cats are so territorial, I can only imagine they hung around the general area of the burned buildings until the Troubles were over. Would they have been standoffish when the family first returned, or would they have twined around people's ankles in greeting, their tails forming question marks as if to say, 'Where have you been all this time?'

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Exactly! You hit the nail on the head. Thanks!

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It certainly felt like it was shaping that way... and it might well have turned out that way, if Pippin hadn't proven his quality in the way he did. And poor Ferdi also had to deal with the fact that he had no power in this situation. I'm sure he felt like someone swept away in a strong current, barely able to keep his head above water, much less rescue himself from his circumstances. Thank you for telling me what you loved about the scene. Recalling them forging that chain made me smile. How I love these hobbits! Things are looking up, though they'll have more ups and downs as the story progresses. It's a bit of a roller-coaster ride in places. Not AU, though; intended to fit neatly into cracks and crevices in the existing stories, and even explain some of the details in those (like the fact that Ferdi doesn't draw a salary for the work he does in the later stories).

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MM! (I love your enthusiasm) I love hearing what you love; it gives me a glimpse into a scene from another's perspective. Poor Ferdi and Tolly. Definitely caught between a rock and a hard place. And the gossip, while it might be a satisfying way to while away wintry days, was definitely doing harm. I think that even as Pippin was stunning them to silence, his listeners were finally beginning to see Pippin as Regi sees him, and to understand the kind of Thain they now have. He's a keeper! Thanks!

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I got to thinking... how would somebody (like Pippin or Regi) know that if The Took is involved, a convocation of Tooks must be called together in a case of banishment. After all, Paladin presided over the banishments that took place after the Troubles, and it is possible that no Thain has been involved in a banishing case in living memory. Up until Farry ran away and triggered this one. It must have been quite something when one of the loremasters found out that Pippin had been the accuser, and yet Ferdi and Tolly were not appreciably (apparently) wealthier... Thanks!

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I am glad, too! I am so often heartened or enlightened by the reviews you and others leave. From hearing what jumped out at you, to highlighting something to ponder, to pointing out an error or inconsistency, to simply having a human connection (while I would write for my own love of the characters, it’s so nice to know I’m not just talking to myself)... it’s so nice to hear from you. Author Reply: (p.s. I am glad this site allows more than one reply, because I forgot to mention that Beregond’s story was my gateway into fanfic. His plight—making a choice that he knew meant his condemnation, and yet freely making that choice and living with the consequences for some weeks after, having to anticipate his death—struck a chord with me after I watched a sibling walk courageously through the last months of cancer.)

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You’re right! Leaving the five accused alone together, waiting, was a deliberate choice. Their loved ones should be allowed to speak in their defense, I should think, though unless they had new evidence to add , there wouldn’t be much hope. I love this picture you’ve painted of Farry. It has been fun to see him come into his own as this story has proceeded (much more to come, LOL!). Thanks so much!

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Hello! Thank you for the kudos. The system has sort of developed over a span of years, but I have tried to stay consistent with the nature of hobbits as I understand them, and from one story to another. Someone pointed out an inconsistency to me the other day that helped me clarify the process in this story, thankfully. To borrow from Aragorn’s speech in the ROTK movie, someday there will be a small but thriving community of hobbits in Ithilien, but (preferably) not this day. Thanks!

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(((hugs))) I know it looks dark, and it will get a bit darker before the dawn. Rudigrim may well be reflecting the political turmoil amongst the Tooks, seeing that the viciousness of the gossip (gossip can be incredibly destructive even when there is no malice behind it. perhaps especially then.) has just about rendered the Thain and Steward ineffective by this point. That, mixed with his own personal resentment (he was of the "Regi for Thain" faction before Paladin called Pippin back), is not a good combination for Pippin's sake. This story is a roller-coaster, for sure (at the moment, it's coming in between 40 and 50 chapters, depending on where the natural breaks work best, and the Muse just added a new section that was supposed to be only one chapter but expanded to several). However, once we get past this stretch of whitewater, the political turmoil will die down a bit and there will be other things driving the plot. Thank you so much for your support! Looking forward to seeing you.

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Oh, I know! For the most part, this story pictures a slice of Farry's life every five years or so, and Ferdi and the other hobbits around him certainly seem to go through more than their share of troubles in each segment. It must have something to do with the luck of the Tooks. Though it makes me wince to say so, this story does happen to catch Ferdi at some of his worst times, luck-wise. I comfort myself by imagining the long stretches of boring days where nothing happens, that come in between the crises, but as JRRT himself noted, don't make for very good storytelling. LOL! Thanks!

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Fortinbrand has a good heart and the best of intentions. He's doing his best to see justice done. And in this system, which considers hobbits as generally honest and open about their deeds (there is No smoke without fire, added to the attitude that an accusation would hardly be made unless it's true along with the heavy penalty for false accusation), the accused is automatically considered guilty unless further investigation or witnesses' answers to questions prove him/her innocent. It is a thorny problem! Have had too much caffeine today, so thanks for bearing with me as I think aloud, and for taking the time to leave an encouraging word!

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Happily, I have a number of chapters already edited and ready to go on this one (and more are currently going through beta reading), so there should be a new chapter every two or three days. The Muse has been in a particularly good mood since returning out of the blue recently, for which I am eminently grateful. It's so good to hear from you! Glad you're along for the ride. Thanks for stopping to leave a good word.

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MM, I am so glad you are liking the story! I am doing my best to write it so that it fits on the timeline I constructed years ago (and have written to, for the most part), and yet still works as a standalone. Hopefully it works! Ah, those Tooks! (But of course, JRRT said himself that hobbits could be quite stubborn and tiresome and have limited imagination, or something like that... But Gandalf also said that hobbits were full of surprises, so there is that.) Thanks! As I'm sure you'd agree, reading reviews is so very encouraging.

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Tooks, actually. Which will come clearer as the story proceeds. Thanks! Author Reply: Will modify my answer thus: Tooks who are seeking what they consider is best for their homeland. Whew. Author Reply: And, because I am rather driven to distraction at the moment, and hoping for a good outcome, I will divert myself with a riddle hopefully worthy of a Tookish-Bagginsy Burglar himself, with his "burahobbit" answer that, while perfectly true, also served to confuse certain others in his story. Tooks, and Tooks who are seeking what they consider is best for their homeland, and a few more Tooks into the bargain. Thank you for having patience with me. Will tell you all about it when we meet again.

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It is so good to hear from you again! I too have been away from fanfic for some years, but now that I am semi-retired, the Muse has returned from a long absence. This story is written all the way to the end! I'm hoping she will be tractable enough to tackle the WIPs as well. At the moment, it seems to be working to post two or three chapters a week. Thank you so much for stopping and leaving a good word.

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Amen to that! Both of your sentiments, actually. Thanks!

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It's hard to catch a break, especially when everything you say and do is a matter of gossip for those around you. Poor little fellow. But he's got a good head on his shoulders, and he will certainly come into his own. Thanks!

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I remember when my little ones came down sick; I always wished I could swap places with them. Thanks for stopping and leaving a good word!

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Thank you! It is certainly a case of "little pitchers have big ears". While this story touches upon Pippin's health journey (it is part of what drives the plot), it also has several time leaps that will sort of fast-forward through that thread in the tapestry. In any event, that way there is some resolution to that in this story (where other stories with a shorter timeline leave it hanging). (I hope I'm making sense; had rather too much caffeine today.) I appreciate your stopping to leave an encouraging word!

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Indeed. Overhearing his Brandybuck cousins talking soberly among themselves about his father's health might be one thing, but hearing it directly from Pippin's own mouth? Quite another. Thanks! Appreciate your taking time to leave a good word. Looking forward to seeing you!

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Thankfully, this one is written in draft form all the way to the end, meaning that all it needs is editing, so it has a much lower chance of ending up hanging as a WIP. (Though I am hoping to get to those, too...) If it's any help, the early chapters of this story coincide with material in Flames / FireStorm / Striking Sparks and fall toward the end of StarFire, in that difficult time before the finding of the treasure-hoard of the Thain and the arrival of showers of blessing from the Southlands. His troubles all started when Pippin had a bad bout of pneumonia in Jewels, which affected his health throughout his time as Steward of Buckland and his early years as Thain (and all the stories set during that time), all the way to the events in At the End of His Rope and A Healer's Tale. The later chapters in this story are set later on the timeline, after Pippin's healing. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a word of encouragement!

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Thank you! The next chapter after this took a bit longer to edit than the previous ones as it's twice as long as usual. But it's about to post. (Just after I finish this reply, actually.) Thanks for coming along on the journey and stopping to leave a good word!