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Healing the Long Cleeve by TopazTook	7 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 8/5/2005
Oh, we are all becoming so certain we know what's going on, and none of them have a clue, do they? Love Diamond's protectiveness. Author Reply: Yep, we do have that tendency to be certain we know what’s going on, don’t we? Glad you liked Diamond’s protectiveness, too. [“Nobody messes with my Pip.” -- Diamond]

Nina the powerwriter	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/6/2004
Oh man, didn't expect this! Pippin seems to be under a lot of stress, and those little housseys (sp?) didn't make anything better! I sure hope everything works out soon. Author Reply: I think "hussies" is the spelling you are looking for. :) So you didn't expect this, eh? I did....for quite some time, LOL. ("the kitchen lasses' giggles as he walked by them" -- Chap. 5; Poplar witnessing Pip and Diamond's disagreement about the color of her dress in Chap. 6; "the kitchen lasses he caught staring and giggling in his direction" -- Chap. 8 (poor Bert, he thought they were looking at him, when it was actually Pippin who was standing nearby); Ganelon's accusation --Chap. 9; Estella's joke -- Chap. 10) :) I've been trying to write in foreshadowing and characterizations that would support this ever since I introduced the kitchen lasses. Very little in this fic is (meant to be, anyway) an accident. :) (Although OK, I admit the piglet races in Chap. 8 were a bit gratuitous.) How does that song go? "Things can only get better..." (Note to all reviewers re: Chap. 12. Expect slight delay in posting due to RL houseguests.)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/6/2004
Good for Diamond, dismissing those forward kitchen maids! Heavens, how did such ninnies get hired on at the Great Smials anyway? Poor Pervinca, projecting her own miseries and unhappinesses on her little brother. I hope they will come to some kind of understanding before the end of the story. I love your characterizations, by the way! Author Reply: Yes, that was a very empowering moment for our Diamond!:) The "ninnies" got hired at the Great Smials because they are tweenaged help of the kind that signs on to work at the Smials for a certain period of time before going home to contribute their wages to their families, find their own hobbits, whatever. The permanent staff, such as Second Cook Geranium and hobbitservant Bert, is more thoroughly vetted for quality. :) You are very insightful about what's going on with Pervinca. Her list of topics to chatter about at Pip's bedside intentionally does not include her own husband -- although she unintentionally is right about Pip being more of a gentlehobbit and showing Diamond more consideration than Mr. Proudfoot did for Pervinca (who was smuggled to his smial in Blotmath, i.e. November, 1419 (chap. 1) and whose oldest child was born in Sept. 1420 (chap. 8). I am so glad you like my characterizations! (BTW, this is one reason I don't write Pearl much, since every time I try, she just flows out of my pen as a flibbertigibbet.) (Note to all reviewers: expect slight delay in posting of Chap. 12 due to RL houseguests.)

Auntiemeesh	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/6/2004
Oh my! I know they eventually manage to get things worked out, at least to a certain extent, because otherwise Faramir would never exist, lol. But it really is a difficult, ongoing process. Poor Pippin, he is so sad and tired in this chapter. I do hope that they are able to bridge this gap of misunderstanding and miscommunication soon, I hate seeing him so unhappy. Author Reply: It is a difficult and ongoing process -- it requires a partnership, to learn how to make a marriage, and for both partners to make an effort. (Soon and very soon...hums the rest of the tune.) Pippin is very sad and tired in this chapter; even though he's creating much of his misery himself, it nearly breaks my heart, and I'm the one who wrote him into it! (Makes you just want to cuddle him better, doesn't it? ;) ) (Note to all reviewers: expect slight delay in Chap. 12 due to RL.)

pipspebble	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/6/2004
Hoy, our Diamond has more gumption that I'd given her credit for! And glad to see it I am; now if she can just get that stubborn Took of a husband to open his eyes and see what should, by now, be plain. sigh Males! And call me "duh" but I just now got the titles; very clever; obviously too clever for me to have figured it out before now. ;-) Still lovin' this story, and I'd convinced myself way back in Chapter One that I wouldn't like this hobbitess no matter what. Shows how much I know. Great job! Author Reply: Well, you're actually the first one to notice the significance of the chapter titles, so I can think you can pat yourself on the back! (I have a few more, although some of them do get a little more obscure, LOL.) Yes, sigh, men...er, hobbits! What do they see in all that pipe smoke and ale they hide behind anyway, LOL? You're right: he's literally not opening his eyes in this chapter. There's some sort of anti-Diamond feelings that seem to swirl about the fandom, so you were probably just tapping into the zeitgeist when you convinced yourself you wouldn't like her. (Or thinking of your own excellent stories, which I'm sure we would all like to see continued. Hint. Hint. :) ) Glad you like this story, and thanks for the compliment! (As I've said to other reviewers, expect a slight delay in Chap. 12 due to RL.)

Kriszta	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/6/2004
So Diamond is in love? And she does feel some level of desire in herself? It was about time. :) But I see a major problem in their relationship: the lack of communication (wich is a common problem in our world, too, for that matter). Pippin thinks that his wife developed a certain sickness and they could never have a child. Diamond doesn't know why Pippin did stopped courting her. What is more: Diamond still does not know anything about the mere existence - not the technics! that is not indispensable to know - of sex life in marriage, and Pippin doesn't know that Diamond doesn't know. It's a stalemate. If they continue not to speak about their longings and fears, and/or not to act on it... I hope they would. Soon. My favourite line: "Anyone could call her by name, but “wife” was his alone." It reminds me a little bit of Gilbert Blythe and his pride, when he said "my wife" for the first time. Author Reply: Another very insightful review. Yes, Diamond is in love, although I don't think she -- quite -- realizes it yet. And she's starting to get an inkling of her desires and what they mean.:) (Soon. ;) ) Lack of communication is a big problem.: it's a huge issue in any relationship. Life would probably be much easier for these two if they could read each other's minds.:) And that lasses' healer...well, her plan worked for the lass, but it kind of backfired since she didn't have enough familiarity with the lad in question to take his reaction into account. Hadn't thought of a connection to Anne of Greene Gables's Gilbert. (I thought the last couple of books in that series kind of declined in quality from the ones set earlier in Anne's life, but that's really neither here nor there.) I'm glad you liked the line, though. Everyone was so focused on how it seemed impersonal that Diamond called Pippin "husband" all the time, that I don't think there was any consideration of her feelings about why she did it, or what she'd like to be called. Chap. 12 will be slightly delayed as my mother, sister and nieces come to visit and occupy my house and my writing time for a few days this week and into next.

Ariel	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/6/2004
You know, I am beginning to think that the maids SHOULD have taken him in hand (or in other parts)! Poor Pippin! I am beginning to resent Diamond mightily. You MUST have someone slap her upside the head once GOOD. She needs it really badly. I am hoping that Pervinca is the one who will jump down Diamond's throat and tell her just exactly what damage she's done to her brother and what exactly her 'duties' are. I am still waiting for the comeupance, though the two of them are becoming so twisted that you wonder if they ever could come around to a normal husband and wife relationship! Still reading and still interested in finding out what happens. Author Reply: Hmm. Pippin is actually creating most -- not all, grant you, but most -- of his own misery in this chapter. It takes two to tango: and not to, as well. Other stuff happens next; expect a slight delay in posting due to RL houseguests.

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