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The Road to Edoras by Dreamflower	17 Review(s)
Speedy Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/7/2013
Awhhh Folco! I'd imagine if he were a human in today's world he would have been tacked with the ADHD label for both his impulsiveness (saying unexpected things, never developing a filter on his mouth but retaining the painful frankness of a young child) and for his inattention (having his mind on the next thing of interest by the time it is made apparent why what he said is offensive.) His hyperfocus on his music, which is of extreme interest to him, matches another criterion. If he also had a proclivity for losing things, tended towards fidgetiness and found it hard following directions and acting (as well as speaking) before thinking, that would seal the deal, if his charm despite the exasperation he often causes wasn't enough! What do you think? Author Reply: It's quite possible; hobbits of course were not ones for sticking labels on people of that sort. He clearly had a social dysfunction of some sort, and your hunch is probably a good one. Mostly he was based on a girl I knew in college; I do not believe she had been diagnosed with any learning disability, but this was nearly 40 years ago, when such things were not as frequently discovered.

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/19/2013
Re-reading Freddy's story about Frodo had me chortling loudly in the middle of the night (and hoping I didn't wake any of my neighbours). A person with such a severe case of (wooly- g) foot-in-mouth disease is so, so funny to read about, but actually having a friend or family member be afflicted with it is rather excruciatinginly awkward. But you convey so very well the bright innocence of Folco - which makes his fate all the more horrific and sad. And I have to say, I'm not normally a vengeful person, and Ted Sandyman's fate in turn was bad and pitiful, but for his part in Folco's torture and murder, I'll freely admit to a feeling of satisfaction and "justice served". It's a good thing to follow Freddy coming to terms with the loss of his best friend through the course of the story, with the help of Bergil. IIRC, he will make a gift of the flute to the boy later on, and I still remember this as a very nice and symbolic gesture of this process, as well as of the friendship that had developed between those two. Author Reply: Folco was quite funny--he was like the child in "The Emperor's New Clothes", only he never grew out of it. It was only his bright innocence as you call it and his generous spirit that made him loved by his friends. And I am glad of your reaction to Sandyman's fate; for all the misery Lotho caused and the dreadfulness of his own fate, it happened "offstage" and no one really had to deal with it. Dealing out justice to Sandyman was quite satisfying to me, even though it was also rather harrowing to write. I am so glad you noticed the symbolism of Freddy's friendship to Bergil and the role it played in his healing; that was important to me as well, and was one of the elements planned for this story before I ever even finished "A New Reckoning"!

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/10/2007
Delightful chapters - I'm up to seven now!!!! And I loved and was saddened by the chapter about Folco - beautifully told! Author Reply: I'm so glad you are still enjoying it! Poor Folco! The first story I wrote with him in it was "A Conspiracy of Hobbits". His personality developed from this question: why was someone who was obviously a dear friend of Frodo, much as Fredegar was, excluded from the Conspiracy? And it came to me that he was one of those people, who despite every best intention, simply can't keep their mouths shut. And then, as I pondered more, the question occurred to me: how would such a person fare during the Occupation? When I realized the answer, I told myself sharply NO! because I really liked Folco. But as I began to write "A New Reckoning" I knew I could not deal with Freddy without dealing with that pesky Folco bunny. So poor Folco had to go. I wrote "For Folco". sigh 8*-( But I still love the character, so I like to use him in flashbacks and pre-Quest stories whenever feasible.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/23/2005
Awww...Folco's tale was sweet...and sad. Aunt Dora's sage advice was quite delightful. Folks today forget that that is what the elderly, or "older cousins" did--is give advice to the younger people. Folco was a good young hobbit, but you're right; Captain Freddy wouldn't be compelled to lead the envoy if it weren't for him. Pippinfan Author Reply: Yes, Folco was sweet and sad. I took Aunt Dora's characterization straight from FotR: she was constantly giving "reams of advice". I figured she was the Hobbiton version of "Dear Abbby". I always picture her as old-fashioned and rather prim and spinsterish about certain things, but good-hearted and practical underneath. Poor Folco's fate was sealed from the first story I used him in, "Conspiracy". I got to wondering: why would someone so obviously a part of Frodo's inner circle of friends so clearly have been left out of the Conspiracy. As he evolved into an amiable but clueless fellow who could not keep his foot out of his mouth, nor keep a secret under any circumstances, it began to occur to me to wonder how someone like that would fare under Lotho and the ruffians. When the scenario of "For Folco" occurred to me, I resisted it for a long time, but as I began to write "A New Reckoning", I realized that for Freddy to grow, poor Folco had to go. sigh

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/24/2005
A lovely memorial for a friend. Author Reply: It is, a memortial of a sort. In my Shire, Freddy and Folco were to one another, much the same as Merry and Pippin to one another. Folco's murder hit Freddy very hard and was the catalyst for his becoming a leader in the rebellion. But until after the Shire was free, he had never had any time to properly grieve because of the Troubles. In my story "A New Reckoning" it is Merry, Legolas and Gimli who enable him to begin this process, and his leaving the Shire is a part of it.

Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/2/2005
I am addicted to RSF's Bergil story and impatient for updates! (I even nominated the story for the MEFAs, so be sure to go and vote on it.) I do hope inspiration will strike, and soon! I am hungered for more glimpses of Beregond, and his interaction with Bergil, and with Pippin. Beregond is the character that drew me into fanfiction in the first place... My own Bergil story has been languishing for months, awaiting its final chapter or chapters, but reading RSF's I am inspired at least to be thinking about it again. Author Reply: I do love that story! I've already entered a tentative review, though I didn't notice you were the nominator, LOL! Bergil is just so sweet! I love that your Bergil gets to be an "adopted hobbit". I notice that both of us managed to get him into the Shire for a while--you during the emergency at "The End of His Rope" and me during the mission of "A New Reckoning". I guess we know that child is really a hobbit at heart!

Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/1/2005
I find myself with tears in my eyes as Freddy remembers Folco. His friend was indeed sweet and "clueless" as you say, but never meant any harm by it, as I am sure many of the hobbits who grew to know him would have understood. (We have a few "clueless" ones amongst our acquaintance and have learned a little about steering conversations, not that it always works, mind.) I like your Bergil, as well, and the reminders of his friendship with Pippin. And it is good to see Freddy healing. Funny, I'd never thought of "Fatty" coming from Estella's baby talk! Cute! Author Reply: That's the thing. Folco never did mean any harm, even when trying to be witty or funny and saying something hurtful, he never realized it. And it's true that any who knew him well would begin to realize this. But it still put a lot of people off. Merry had to get to know Fatty a good deal better before he began to understand Folco, and Pippin didn't really appreciate anything but his music before the Conspiracy. I think, though, that Frodo understood his sweet nature all along, just as he appreciated Freddy's hidden intelligence. Bergil has always been a favorite of mine. Are you familiar with Rabidsamfan's "The Errand Lad"? It's a lovely WIP all about Bergil's time in Minas Tirith with the hobbits? Freddy is indeed healing. He is always going to feel that broken cord, but as time passes it will be much less painful. I've mentioned it from time to time, just because I think "Fatty" is a little odd as a nickname that would fit 90% of the population, LOL!

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/1/2005
Oh, how nice to see Freddy remember his dear friend! It`s cute how Bergil always manages to bring up Pippin though, that lad has a great fondness for his knight. :) Excellent chapter! Author Reply: This chapter was about friendship, and so even as Freddy was remembering Folco, Bergil was thinking about his own friend. I don't know that Pippin could necessarily be described as Bergil's "best friend"--aside from the age gap and the distance is the fact that they have actually spent relatively little time together--but I'd definitely say one of his dearest friends. I get the impression from RotK that there really weren't many lads of his own age about for Bergil to be friends with. Pippin clearly filled a much needed niche in Bergil's young life.

Nina the powerwriter	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/25/2005
This is my favorite chapter so far! Awww...that makes me so sad about Folco! He seemed like such a good guy, even if he couldn't keep his mouth shut :) I love how Freddy was his best friends, and tried to keep him in line. Wonderful chapter, Barbara! Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked it. It is sad about Folco. He was one of those sweet, but totally clueless people--I'm sure you've known one or two yourself. They say something, and when it hurts someone's feelings or makes someone made, get all confused: "What did I say?" They really don't understand. Freddy, fortunately did--possibly since they had been together since they were babies. I always think they were sort of like Merry and Pippin, only not as equal, for Folco needed looking after a lot more than Pippin did, at least once he got older. I loved his character, and resisted killing him off as long as I could. I'm hoping that I can occasionally include him in flashbacks like this one.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/24/2005
I wish I had been paying attention and started reading this sooner! I'm sure I will forget to say something I wanted to! I have really liked the way that you ahve had the other hobbits hearing about Merry and Pippin's deeds from some of the soldiers, not that they really doubt them, but I'm sure it makes it a bit more real. I like how you mentioned the Prancing Pony a couple of times as a famous inn. That Butterbur actually pointed out the table Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin had sat at the night they passed through was great! Hm, Clodio is still more than bitter about what happened, as is Clovis, and not willing to admit that they did wrong. Where as it seems there might be hope for Cado and Dago, King allowing, to make happy lives for themselves outside the Shire. Poor, Viola! If her only experience with Men, other than the King's Men has been one of fear I'm sure the prospect of a whole town of them is terrifing! If she thought Bree was big I can't imagine what it is going to be like for her in Edora or Minas Tirith! It amuses me as well that the hobbits have taken over cooking. I'm sure for them porridge was quite a trial! The Men will probably get spoiled with all the hobbit cooking and not want to travel without at least one in their company from now on! It is very nice to see Freddy healing a bit as well. I'm glad he was able to talk to Bergil about Folco and not be overcome with grief but rahter remember him fondly. I did like hearing more about Folco as well! Poor, hobbit! He really did put his foot in his mouth quite a bit! I especially liked him talking about Lobelia and Lotho and Bilbo sticking up for him! This is splendid and I'm anxiously awaiting more! And I promise to be more on top of things! I was grateful for the recap, I would like to read A New Reckoning again but who knows when I will be given that time! Looking forward to more of this one! Author Reply: I was concerned before I started this, that it would be difficult to fill the chapters, as it would more than a bit boring if every one was the same, just describing another day of riding south on a pony. So I took a cue from Chaucer. This will be a good chance for the group to tell one another stories, and so get to know one another better: the Men can tell the hobbits about things that happened during the War as well as other things, and the hobbits can fill the Men in on hobbit society. And I have not forgotten Legolas and Gimli, who will also have some interesting anecdotes. The prisoners are going to have some things to think about. Some good, some not so. They have not yet learned their lesson. Perhaps one of them will, perhaps not. Viola is the most hobbity of the hobbits travelling. She really will make an effort to overcome her timidity. And she will get a chance to learn how much she has learned from Poppy. Since nearly all hobbits are pretty good cooks, it only makes sense. I am sure some of the Men are not bad cooks, but travel fare can be pretty unimaginative. Being able to talk freely about Folco has been a major step for Freddy. And who couldn't be fond of poor Folco, even if he would make you nuts to be around? I was sure though, that Bilbo would have gotten a big kick out of hearing Lobelia and Lotho talked about that way. That was why I did include the recap. I was pretty sure most readers would not have the time to completely re-read a 73 chapter opus! And thanks for your review. You know I love yours--you are always so detailed about what you liked!

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