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The Ties of Family  by Larner 5 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 26 on 2/4/2006
You do come up with the most interesting original characters! *sigh* Poor, foolish Emro. But at least he got the chance to set things right.

And as to Beasty--well, he's hopeless.

Bedro looked at the two of them, and smirked at Fosco’s stricken face. “So, you’ve gotta leave, then? Poor little blind Baggins has to leave Westhall?”

Fosco stood up and moved toward the older Hobbit. “Actually, Beasty, you forget Forsythia and I own our own hole here. Perhaps we will move away,
or perhaps we’ll simply stay here and enjoy our own property with a guardian of our own choosing until we come of age. And we retain our interests in
the farm here as well. We can even continue to work the farm alongside our aunts and uncles and da if we please and they agree.” He came closer. “Unlike
you, we haven’t been found with stolen jewelry or weighted dice in our pockets. You are the one who gets to leave Westhall, you know.” He finally stood
in front of Beasty. “You have made yourself unpopular here all your life. You’ve have done your best over the years to make the entire village hate you.”

Ha ha! I'm glad Fosco finally got a chance to deliver that well-deserved punch...and justly so! Honestly, Bedro is so like Lotho it isn't even funny. And, it's funny, but he reminds me of a schoolmate who used to bully me. Only this kid was a lot *younger*.


Author Reply: Bullies are bullies, whether older or younger. And I, too, am glad that Frodo taught Fosco that punch and to limit himself. You're right--Beasty deserved it if anyone ever did.

And it is with reason Bedro is sent out to stand before King and Stewards.

And Emro at least learned from his experience, something Beasty never does.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 26 on 6/14/2005
So this was the reason why Emro would marry off Forsythia? I must admit to be relieved because he was not as bad as it had seemed before. Of course he was a fool to handle with the Bracegirdles in the first place, but at least he was not evil, but only cheated himself. I truly enjoyed how Paladin uncovered all this! And although it is sad for the twins to leave their home, I am happy they will be with Narcissa from now on. Thank you! Oh, and I am relieved Griffo and Daisy are unharmed.
Sometimes I wonder if Frodo has foreseen anything of this - his dispositions truly seem inspired by some knowledge of the future.

Author Reply: Well, he appears to have known some level of foresight before he left, so perhaps he might have done so. I suspect, however, that he was mostly relying on his own knowledge of the folk involved in ordering backups guardians, and figuring out how well they would work out with one another.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 26 on 6/13/2005
My goodness, what an intricate story you've crafted! You've written Fosco as a wonderfully confident and intelligent hobbit... he's a credit to the family.

Author Reply: I WANT him to be a credit to the family, and to carry on the more recent Baggins legacy of responsibility to go along with the Took curiosity, whatever Brandybuck portion of independent thinking they might have inherited, and the Boffin love of the land they've inherited. Glad you find him confident and intelligent. Now to further enhance that intelligence with more knowledge and experience!

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 26 on 6/13/2005
What an interesting chapter. Glad to see Frodo's lesson on making one punch count stuck w/Fosco. If anyone deserves it, it was Beasty.

One thing I am confused about. Are the twins moving in w/Narcissa or is Narcissa and the twins moving to their real parents smial? Sorry if it seems obvious, but that did confuse me a little bit while reading.

Looks as the Thain has everything under control. I wouldn't want to be that group when they meet up w/Halladan.

Looking forward as always to the next installment.

Author Reply: They're going to Overhill for now, and then on to the conference for the Northern Kingdom; then will decide for the future. Sorry, thought I'd made that clear, but will check it again.

And, yes, it's about time Frodo's patient teaching of Fosco on how to throw that punch paid off, isn't it? And am proud Fosco stopped with the one. And Paladin is proving to be a good Thain indeed.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 26 on 6/13/2005
What a complicated scheme they cooked up! No wonder it was doomed to failure. Not only are Bracegirdles prone to bullying, but they don't appear to be the brightest bulbs in the package, either. They obviously had no idea of what they were doing.

I loved Fosco getting a chance to throw the punch Frodo taught him. About time Beasty got his.

And I definitely look forward to seeing Narcissa offering a bit of comfort to Brendilac.

Author Reply: Remember, Bigelow is probably an alcoholic himself, a situation that tends to limit clear thinking and lead to grand schemes doomed to failure.

Each family in the Shire seems to have its characteristics, and envy and scheming are a good part of it for the Bracegirdles, it seems.

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