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A Healer's Tale by Lindelea	10 Review(s)
Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/13/2007
This tender chapter brings me to tears. How heartbreaking. I love the way you flip back and forth, giving us a taste of Woodruff's life leading to this day. Tari Author Reply: Yes, this was one of the most difficult chapters to write. Woodruff's chapters were a good tension-reliever for me. (Probably for the reader, too.) And it was an interesting exercise to interweave the two stories. Thanks!

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/30/2005
What a few very exciting chapters! I held my breath as they talked of who were to succeed as Thain as well as when Merry probed first one well then the other. That lad is so responsible even as a little lad! I`m very happy they found Pip but I`m curious to what state he is in. And Pippin and Diamond`s little children! :) They`re so cute. Poor Farry though. This last chapter brought tears to my eyes. A truly lovely story Lin! hugs Author Reply: Yup. I think Merry is about 14 at the time of the "well" incident, and even at that age he's very responsible, being heir to the heir to Buckland, and Pippin's older cousin all at the same time! Pippin was shivering cold, nearly asleep from hypothermia when Merry found him. They took him home, warmed him well, forced a draught or two into him, and before the end of the day he was back on his feet and cadging cake from all and sundry. Thank you!

Beruthiel	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/28/2005
sniff Wonderful. I like how you included Gandalf's line: "Not all tears are evil" Looks like Sam and Merry have arrived in the nick of time. Never realized they were that close when I read "Rope". Author Reply: Yup, they were that close! The reason that Regi and Ferdi were in the room with them, in the chapter where Sam has arrived (in "Rope") is because Pippin had already passed on the office of Thain to his successor, and his relatives were singing his final song(s). But I guess this story, going into detail as it does, makes it all the more clearer. I do love that line of Gandalf's. Very wise and loving. Thanks!

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/27/2005
OH MY!!! Such wonderful chapters!!!! The sudden realization that it's the wrong well!! (I didn't catch it - duh! Well done :) ) The defeat they were feeling when Regi took the ring. And I love the "jammy-kisses" and his wee twins snuggled up against him, sleeping in their innocence. sigh This is just such a powerful story. Wonderful! Wonderful!! Wonderful!!! and even better :) Author Reply: Well, it was supposed to be a surprise for anyone who hadn't read "In the Greening of the Year" (or perhaps even for those who did read it and forgot... I'm finding this in some of the mysteries I'm reading, that I read as a teen. If I forgot whodunit, it's a whole new story to me!). Thank you!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/27/2005
That was so sad and so very emotional! The scene with the little twins was really heartbreaking! You warned me there would be a cliffhanger, but I must say, you place your cliffies very skilfully :) Something unexpected is about to happen, I feel it. I will keep my word to read this story first - to the end, whatever will happen. Author Reply: You're very brave. I am one of those without the self-discipline to read a book without peeping at the ending... LOL And if I don't like the ending, I don't read the middle! My time is so very limited... Thanks!

Mysterious Jedi	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/27/2005
Ferdi would have been a capable regent, though he wouldn't have liked it very much! <>< Saved from sin through Christ, MJ Author Reply: Yes, those reflect my thoughts exactly.

Connie B.	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/27/2005
Oh, Lin, I have tears in my eyes. Yes, I know how it ends, but that scene of the twins and their "nighty-bye kisses" just tore me up. I also am finding an interesting pattern in your stories. Every time you mention the Thain's Ring you remind us of the weight of it. I keep thinking that it is a metiphore for the weight of responsibility that the office holds. Every time you describe that ring I feel so bad for Pippin. He never wanted that responsibility, but he managed it so well. Now I'm just feeling so bad for him. I love this story, and all of them. Thanks. Connie B. Author Reply: Very insightful comment. Yes, the ring reflects the weight of responsibility, and also is a reminder of its origin, as will be detailed in "Thain" (Yes, we're getting closer to resuming publishing again), although it is possible that the provenance of the ring was lost in the mists of history... (actually I made it up. Don't tell anybody!) Well, hang in there. I'm glad you know what's going to happen, to. I just finished typing in Merry's return from Buckland, so we're making progress. Hugs.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/27/2005
Good for Regi and Ferdi. And if they make up their minds to accept it - who can argue? Well, the answer is, I suppose, a convocation of Tooks. But they won't win! Glad they won't get the chance to find out. Mind you, who is to say that Farry will be suited for Thainship? He can be brought up to the job and still not be good at it. I suspect that there are a whole lot of Tooks who thought that Pippin would be hopeless and only got the job through inheritance. Poor Woodruff. It must be really hard to be the healer, sitting back and trying to be professional, when you are grieving along with the family. . . . And did I pick up that she and Pippin had combined in this scheme? Does that make her part of Pippin's ruling team? I can see why he would respect her opinion, but I can't picture many other Thains plotting with the healer whilst reposing on their deathbeds. Good interlude. Get that Mayor in there quickly. He's needed. Author Reply: Yes, the Mayor is needed quickly. Working on it! Well, Ferumbras wasn't suited for Thainship, really, either, poor lad. But he got saddled with it all the same. Well, Woodruff was not so much a co-conspirator as she was a mouthpiece. Pippin used her as a tool, in other words. Sounding board and tape-recorder. With her full knowledge and compliance. Thanks!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/26/2005
Oh gosh, you have me all teary-eyed and sniffly, and I know what's going to happen! How do you do that? Poor Ferdi and poor Regi--they think they are going to be stuck with this for (how old is Farry here? I forgot.) but probably at least twenty years or more until he's thirty-three. And poor Woodruff. She does love him so dearly; how hard this is for her! Author Reply: Yup, about twenty years more. Good thing miracles are not so hard to write. (Plausible miracles, now, are trickier) Woodruff is practically an aunt, it seems sometimes. She reminds me of an aunt I know, anyhow.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/26/2005
You did it again! You have me crying along with the rest of the family. When Regi took the ring I couldn't believe he would take it, then Ferdi thinking that he has the position to keep and maintain until Farry is older, how hard for him as well! The twins spending their last moments with their Da, and Farry being so brave, very good of Pippin to let him know not all tears are evil. Poor Diamond, to be strong for so long and to break here at what can only be the end! I hope this interruption is what I think it is! This story is killing me! ;) Author Reply: Poor dear. I don't think his mind was made up at all, until he turned away. Hope you'll feel better soon. Consider this a "get well soon" card...

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