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All That Glisters by Lindelea	8 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 12/10/2004
So now the Hobbits are leprechauns? Okay.....

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/24/2004
Oh goodness, here I was wishing, and we get a bit of his backstory! How nice! The Amazing Allemondo, hmm? I wonder how he came by Elven rope? I'm so glad that Diamond was able to speak to him before he left, but Pip's going to be mightily put out by all this, to say the least. Author Reply: Just like the old cliche: Be careful what you wish for... altho in this case it was a nice thing to get. The Elven rope is part of a backstory which may or may not be included. My editor is still working on the last ten chapters wherein the rope makes its appearance once more, and that would be the logical place to explain it. But she says it's an interruption, so she'll cut it and nudge me to write it into a story of its own. We'll see.

Connie B.	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/5/2004
Whoa! That certainly was a plot-twist if I ever saw one. I hope they get away, even though Diamond will have a lot of 'splainin' to do. When I read what Farri had to say about hanging all I could thing of was that saying about wisdon from the mouths of babes. If his dad knew he knew these things, he be very upset and sad. Very interesting chapter. Thanks. Connie B. Author Reply: Just realised I didn't answer any reviews from this chapter. Wouldn't want you to think I don't appreciate your taking the time to comment! Wisdom from the mouth of babes... we hear it a lot around here. Thanks.

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/5/2004
Well, this was an interesting turn of events! Diamond giving the gold away! Or maybe she`s tricking them and there´s not much in there in the first place. :) Author Reply: O no, the bag is heavy with gold. Diamond doesn't do things halfway, and she could have let them slip away empty-handed if she'd wanted. I think she felt some sort of obligation, seeing how they saved Hilly's life, and perhaps hers and Farry's (here they were at the edge of the bog, wet and cold, with night coming on and growing ever colder, and no way to start a fire--the matches were in Hilly's saddlebags...) Thanks! Author Reply: p.s. Chapter 19 ends in a cliffhanger, so if you'd like to avoid the angst you might wait until chapter 20 is posted to read. Depends on if you find cliffhangers diverting, or anxiety-producing. (Sometimes such a thing actually diverts me from my own troubles.)

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/5/2004
The Elvish rope never did want to tie Jack up - it resisted Ferdi's knots from the first. What does that mean, exactly? Things made by the Elves seem to be imbued with some of their powers. Of the rope in FOTR, it is only said that it is long and strong and light (slender and silken and grey-hued), but the boats are described as wayward if mishandled, and Pippin directly questions if the cloaks are magic. The elves reply includes, "we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make," so it is reasonable to assume that all things of their craft carry similar properties. Sam's rope helps Frodo regain his sight in the Emyn Muil, is exactly the right length to get them down the cliff, and of course, comes free when called. How do those properties follow from the thought of all the Elves love? Elves don't automatically love justice and right - there are plenty of examples of that. Their strongest love seems to be of the land, and of protecting it and preserving it unstained. The Elves (and the rope) helped Frodo and Sam because of the overwhelming importance of their mission to middle-earth, and I think in honor of their courage in taking on a task that the wisest and stongest feared and that was clearly beyond them without aid. They helped, because help was needed, and help came to Frodo and Sam from likely and unlikely sources all through their quest. The Valar are not present in overt ways in the Third age, but I am a firm believer that they were vitally concerned with the defeat of Sauron, and that the grace they were able to give Frodo is apparent in dreams and winds and even the slip that took Gollum at the end. So, can any of this be applied to Jack's rope and the knots that came undone? It has already been said that Jack is a fool, and though he intended no harm to the hobbits, he fully intended to steal from them, rationalizing what he knew was wrong (they have plenty, etc.) and leading innocents into danger for his own gain. Doesn't exactly rank up there with a quest to save middle-earth. I'm not sure he is even actually sorry. Sorry he got caught, certainly, and sorry that his stupidity has doomed Will and Rob, but in other circumstances he might even try again. At heart though, he is not evil. He immediately tried to help Hilly, without thinking of the danger. He would gladly sacrifice himself if he could get the boys off. He reminds me of the Prodigal Son - not fully repenting, but coming to his senses at last and resolving to try to go back. Is that what this story is ultimatly about then - Mercy? His freedom, and the bag of gold, is a gift given without strings, without requiring perfection of intent or reparation. It is grace. Perhaps that is what the rope ultimately recognises. Author Reply: Nice analysis of the rope. Grace. Yes, that fits. The rope is a creation of grace, and imbued with it. When Jack won it, gambling, its former owner warned him that the rope was a bit tricky, that knots tended to slip, and that he had to be careful in using it. I think he'd seen enough in his travels that he suspected the truth of the matter, and treated the rope accordingly. I think Jack is impulsive, that sometimes he doesn't think things through, and that he really is sorry about the whole mess. I think he's learned his lesson--worse, he's got to live with the fear of being identified, somehow, as having been in the Shire. What if one of the hobbits who's seen him should recognise him, seeing him outside the Shire, and say something to a guardsman? Though he would have stolen a bag of gold and rationalised the deed, he might not have valued it, had he got away with his plan, might even have been tempted to gamble a good part of it away. However, in a way he earned the bag of gold that Diamond gave him, with his selfless actions towards her, Farry, and Hilly, and paid a great price as well (in terms of having the fright of his life, and seeing Will and Rob threatened by his foolishness), such that I think, if he escapes, he'll value the gold and use it well. Thanks for commenting.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/5/2004
Two chapters! Merry and Ferdi are very clever to effect the capture on their own. I think Jack had lost hope though - and his concern for the boys stops him from taking chances. I'm glad Diamond woke up and blessed the attempt at escape - and that she gave them gold. (They're pretty hopeless as thieves and villains, which makes them seem much nicer as people.) I hope they get away, but suspect it could be too easy. I want some of that magic rope. (And think how useful it will be if ever Jack resumes his life as an illusionist.) Author Reply: LOL, yes! Jack the Magnificent and his elven assistant! (the rope, I mean) Good insight, about Jack having lost hope, and about his concern for the boys. Ferdi might be a Halfling, but his arrows were still sharp and could have been deadly to Will or Rob (not to mention Jack). They are pretty hopeless as ruffians. I think they ought to go straight, don't you? Dull, but much safer. Diamond gave them half the gold she was carrying, which I thought was pretty reasonble. She still has one heavy bag left to care for the widows and gaffers and orphans of Pincup. And more where that came from. Thanks!

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/5/2004
Oh! Are they truly getting away? Some how I doubt it but I guess I will just have to wait on more! It is a good thing that Ferdi is so tired but I hope this doesn't get him in trouble! Farry being so upset by the prospect of Jack and boys was very touching. I hope everyone is able to come out of this well! Looking forward to more and finding out how thing progress! Author Reply: Still progressing. This story wrote itself just full of plot twists, without even trying. I mentioned to someone earlier that Ferdi being tired was a plot point, and now it has been made clear... otherwise Jack and the boys would never have escaped as they did. Thanks!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/4/2004
I do like Diamond. Now if only Pippin agrees with what's been done, though I doubt he will at first. Great story, but I am wondering if something will be done for poor Merry's arm. Author Reply: I'm glad you like Diamond. I try to make her a good match for Pippin. If you're to marry for life (as hobbits do), then you might as well be suited for each other! In other news, I've decided to keep the "Bridge" chapters in this story, instead of breaking them out into a separate story, so poor Merry has a good chance of something being done for the arm in an upcoming chapter. Thanks!

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