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All That Glisters by Lindelea	8 Review(s)
Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 5/23/2007
I had to stop reading this delightful tale to ask a question. Does faunt mean infant? Thanks, Tari Author Reply: A faunt, according to JRRT's letters, was a hobbit up to three years of age. At least, that's what I remember! (It's been a while since I've had time for Tolkien's works. Summer's coming...) Thanks for taking the time to drop a line and a word of encouragement!

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 12/29/2004
Sam is always so resolute in his loyalty to his friends. Saying it wasn't his news to tell was very...loyal. Wonderfully done! Oh dear, the whole conversation with Hilly had me near tears! Hilly's insistance that Elessar could heal Pippin and wanting him to be all right. Accepting Posey's impending doom and knowing he will follow but thinking Pippin couldn't leave! Oh! I think I'm going to have to re-read At the End of His Rope! That is the one where Sam returns from Gondor isn't it? Looking forward to more! Thank you for the adventure! Author Reply: Yes, "At the End of His Rope" is the story where Sam goes to Gondor and Pippin is healed at last. I don't think I could write this angsty "walking into death with eyes wide open" stuff if I hadn't already written of his healing! Thanks!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 12/28/2004
Now, you've gone and surprised me yet again with this chapter. I didn't realize that Hilly cared so much for Pippin. I had always thought that he was merely doing his job for the Thain. I suspected that he had respect for Pippin by now, but this wasn't what I'd expected at all. I guess Hilly figured the elvish medicine for near magic and I suppose by hobbit standards it is. At least now Aragorn knows what's what with Pippin though there is nothing he can do about it. I did love Sam's evasive answers btw. Very like Sam. Great chapter. Author Reply: Well, Hilly's about Pippin's age. They were mischievous tweens together when Pippin spent time at the Great Smials, before and after his father became Thain. Working for Pippin as he does now, he cannot be "familiar" with his cousin except on those rare occasions when they're alone together, and when Pippin drops his "Thain" mask--which I imagine he puts on in self-defence, in the presence of cousins who might have played with him as children, or who might have changed his nappies if they're much older. Yep, I think a hobbit would consider elvish medicine to be near-magic, and athelas as well. As for Sam... he gave Strider quite a bit of information without saying anything specific that he might have been sworn to silence about... Thanks!

Beruthiel	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 12/28/2004
Oh, how sad! I knew nothing could be done for Pippin, of course, but this chapter is still heartbreaking. Is Hilly now going to launch a campaign to let the Shire-folk know just how much Pippin does for them, so they will at least give him the respect he deserves in the time he has left? That's what I'd do in Hilly's situation. I know that when he gets the Ent-draught, everyone is delighted to learn he's been healed, so by then they have some idea of how valuable he is to the Shire. On second thought, I recall that just 2 or 3 years before then, a party of Tooks wanted to depose him after he lost the use of one of his legs, even though Paladin had been perfectly able to run things from his bed. Is this party just exceptionally blind, or are there actually hobbits out there who still don't appreciate him by the time "Rope" starts? Author Reply: Well, "launching a campaign" sounds so grand I'm sure it would make Hilly blush and stammer. But he's not above spreading gossip... It's not a matter of not appreciating Pippin, so much as loving him so well... Part of the gossip amongst the Tooks is the fact that Pippin would live longer if he removed to a warm, dry climate (the South Farthing, say, or perhaps even farther south if you can imagine it!) and if he wasn't burdened with the cares of the Shire upon his seemingly frail shoulders. Those officious Tooks looking to depose him were doing it "for his own good"; whether he wanted it or not was not something they considered. Thanks!

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 12/28/2004
Hilly would be horrified to think that he has betrayed Pippin's confidence, even to the king, were his request not so desperate. It is hobbity that he has resigned himself to losing Posey, and to following her into the darkness as soon as may be; but he realizes how very important Pippin is to the Shire, and how much all the hobbits need his wisdom and compassion and determination. It is remarkable for him to interfere in the Thain's private business, and shows also considerable insight on his part: at this point Pippin has earned his Thainship but maybe not all the hobbits of the Shire are as convinced as Hilly of Pippin's ultimate necessity. I think that even though he seems to have accepted the death that is in his future, he desperately wants to do something to heal someone. His anguish is so real. This chapter also really makes me wonder how Entdraught works. The Elves have the power of stasis - they are excellent at the state of waiting, and their healing draught reflects this characteristic. It allows rest so that healing can occur, but it cannot bring about anything new. The Entdraught seems to tap into a more primeval power. The Ents were the thought of Yvanna, if I remember properly, to protect her creations of the forest from potential destruction by the dwarves. She was the one who sang life of a multitude of types into being, and I could imagine her restorative drink to be able to promote growth out of harm, new life out of decay, and vigor out of stasis. At least that's my theory for today. Merry Christmas, a few days late. I hope it was happy for you and your family. How's the hamster? Author Reply: Bingo! Your analysis of Elf-draught versus Ent-draught hits right on the mark. When researching the Ent-draught I re-read the passages in "Two Towers". Interesting that the hobbits not only grow taller (and Merry is past his growing years at the time, as I recall), but all their ills from their ill-treatment at the hands of the Uruk-hai are healed as well. Does the healing come from drinking from the stream? I forget. In any event, there's powerful stuff coming out of Fangorn Forest, and yes, it's a matter of growth (new growth?) in contrast to maintaining. The hamster is very distracting at the moment, rolling everywhere in her ball, checking everything out, while the little ones follow and shriek with delight at the cunning expression on her little face. She is the most distracting creature! (In an amusing way, of course.) I'm reminded of an astronaut in a moon-buggy, exploring a strange new world. Hilly is "into" information. He's one of the biggest gossips in the Great Smials, though he's more about gathering information than disseminating it. It would be very like him to see how much good Pippin has done since becoming Thain. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 12/28/2004
I'm glad Hilly opened up and told Elessar what the problem is. Even if he can't do anything about it, it seems better that he should know. (How long is it before Sam visits the Ents? It doesn't seem as if Pippin is likely to last many more winters, so I hope it's not too far off.) Poor Hilly - he shouldn't have to come to terms with losing Posey (cruel author). He's a hero! Author Reply: Let's see... the meeting at the Bridge was in 1436, and Sam went to Gondor in 1442 and stayed for a year, so perhaps seven years? Pippin will have his ups and downs over that time, making subtle gains in health during part of the time, and losing ground in stress or trying circumstances, but hanging on for the most part as a stubborn Took is wont to do. Hilly is a hero! He ought to get a reward! (Stay tuned)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 12/28/2004
This chapter made me so sad, I had to go back and read the pertinent chapters of "At the End of His Rope", and I realized that since this was one of the earliest stories I read, I never reviewed it, as at the time I didn't know how. Now I'm going to have to go back and re-read the whole thing--What a fate! LOL! Poor Pip. And poor Aragorn. How it must tear him up to realize he can't cure his friends--first Frodo, and now Pippin. But perhaps there is something he can do to at least ease the hobbit's condition--after all, Pip lasts a good few more years until the Ent-draught. Author Reply: Aha! Does this mean I can hope for more reviews? Bet you know how that is. I once considered a medical career, but knowing what I know now I wonder how difficult it might have been, for even doctors for all their knowledge and perceived "power" in our culture still can't cure everything. And they don't even have athelas at their disposal. Pippin does have to last a few more years, and several more bad spells, before Sam brings the Ent-draught to him! Good thing he's a stubborn Took. Thanks!

Connie B.	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 12/28/2004
Finally, someone has the sense to tell the king what happened to Pippin. Pippin is going to be really upset with Hilly though, if he finds out that it was he who told Aragorn the truth. How sad and frustraiting it must be for Aragorn to know what is wrong with his dear friend and not be able to do a thing about it. This chapter was almost as sad as the last one was happy. I'm still enjoying this story a great deal. Keep up the good work. Thanks. Connie. Author Reply: Glad you're enjoying the story even with the sorrow/worry/angst that is integral to this part of the timeline. So far as the outline goes, and the rough draft written from it, Pippin never discovers that it was Hilly who "betrayed" him... I was able to spare Hilly that much grief, at least, so long as I don't re-think that part of the plot. This is a melancholy part of the story with several heart-to-heart conversations. They were all part of one chapter, but just Merry-and-Pippin ran over 1500 words, so the chapter split itself. When a chapter approaches 3000 words the loading and editing becomes much too cumbersome on a dial-up connection.

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