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The Road to Edoras by Dreamflower	10 Review(s)
nancylea57	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 5/22/2010
you know i love your stories. that said each time i read this i wonder bout the fifth paragrap in this chapter. rolly and denny are teaching the beginners not are the beginners; are have i confused myself? anyway back to my re-enjoyment of your tale. Author Reply: You are absolutely right! It is supposed say "Jolly and Mosco". Do you know after all of this time, you are the ONLY person who ever spotted that? gives you an award for being a sharp-eyed reader scurries off to fix it

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 9/27/2005
Another fantastic chapter. Bergil taking a turn for the worse...I've known someone who was thrown from a horse and broke her ribs...I can't imagine too many other things more painful. Breathing is never again taken for granted! Poppy asking Legolas to teach her and Viola to swim is just great! I wondered how you would handle that part, but you went about it perfectly--like everything else you write. I'm looking forward to more!! :-) Pippinfan Author Reply: Because I had established that Bergil could swim, I had to have a reason that he wasn't able to when he fell in. Hitting on the rocks hard enough to knock the breath out and break his ribs served two purposes: it explained why he didn't try to save himself, and also explained why Lavender wasn't able to get all the water out of his lungs, which is what leads to his being sick...(ah, the complexities of plottin h/c...) I too, have known folks who've broken a rib, and you are quite right. Yes, even in the wide world there are hobbity proprieties to observe.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 8/6/2005
I could go with the 'dump them in the middle of the pool and see how long it takes them to get the hang of it' option. Although I suppose that could be considered cruel and unusual punishment. If you were being picky. Here's hoping Bergil starts to recover soon. Author Reply: snort Well, you will notice I did not give all the details of their lesson, suffice it to say that they mastered the skill of "not sinking like a stone". Bergil will recover. I assure you of that.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 8/2/2005
A pity this incident didn't happen near Fangorn. Maybe the Ents would've given Bergil one of their draughts, to help him recover much faster. Beri's explanations about swimming lessons in Buckland are interesting. It makes sense to teach everyone to swim who lives so near of the Brandywine, although I can see why the other hobbits far from the river think the contrary out of the very same reason. Really, I am sorry for Borondir and Anwynd. They didn't anything to deserve this nasty task to teach the prisoners. I'm not sure I would've had the patience to do it! And I am glad Freddy is able to let go some of his grief for Folco. It is nice how Legolas and Gimli try to comfort him every time this nightmarish experience torments him without intruding in his private sphere. Author Reply: I could see that, LOL! Especially if they found out he was a friend of Pippin and Merry. Yes, I've always thought that. We know that Brandybucks were fond of boating and the River, even when other hobbits shuddered at the thought. No, they were stuck with the job because their captains knew they were the best swimmers among the Men. They almost didn't have the patience. I'm sure at some point they were just hoping for an excuse to throw the wretches in. Freddy's grief will be with him forever, probably. But it's become manageable now, especially as he's made new friendships. Legolas and Gimli saw the first time he fell apart. They understand.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 8/2/2005
I am so glad that Legolas and Gimli are there for Freddy. He really needs his friends now. Between his problems with the swimming lessons and his worry about Bergil and now his sadness at the memory of Falco, he is having a very hard time of it. I loved Berilac's stories of swimming in Buckland and the reason for the required lessons rang so true. It would be one way to attempt to prevent any further drownings. Author Reply: Well, the two of them understand about his grief for Folco. They were with him after all, the first time he fell apart listening to Anwynd and Bergil play their flutes back in "Reckoning", and their friendship with him has grown steadily over the course of their journey. I just figured that living so close to the River all the time, swimming was considered a necessary survival skill for Bucklanders who grew up there; but up until Drogo and Primula drowned, they probably had not thought to insist that hobbits from outside Buckland who moved there should also learn. But the way that water safety was drilled into young Brandybucks, it was no wonder Berilac insisted on the lessons.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 8/1/2005
Stubborn prisoners, and gentle comfort. An excellent contrast between the two. Author Reply: Yes, I did want to show that contrast--between those who will let themselves be comforted and those who will reject any attempt at help. Glad you picked up on it.

Mysterious Jedi	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 8/1/2005
Excellent as always <>< Saved from sin through Christ, MJ

Marigold	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 8/1/2005
Poor Freddy, at least he is beginning to heal : ( I can see where you are leading up to that chapter! I enjoyed hearing about the swimming lessons at the Hall!

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 8/1/2005
Poor Freddy, still troubled over the loss of Folco. I wonder, who taught Frodo to swim? Or doesn`t he swim? I guess he taught Merry so he would be able bo get into the water at some point... Author Reply: Since Drogo didn't swim, I would guess that at some point, Frodo was taught by an older cousin, one of his uncles, or maybe even his mother. I am quite sure it was Frodo who taught Merry to swim, just as I believe both of them taught Pip. Hmmm...who taught Frodo to swim...(shoo...shoo...I don't have time for another plot bunny right now...stop biting my ankles...) Freddy, I am sure, will be troubled over the loss of Folco for the rest of his life. It would be like Merry losing Pippin or Pippin Merry. But he is going to learn to move on with his life and not let it incapacitate him as it had at first.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 7/31/2005
Berilac certainly would have a different idea of Frodo's youth and melancholy as he grew up seeing it some. I also liked the little glimpse into Buckland life and how they are taught to swim, also that the hobbits who lived there would now be required to learn to swim is a good idea. The prisoners I'm sure were a great deal of trouble for the Men, hopefully there won't be cause for the prisoners to actually have to swim...but they are being on the safe side. I wouldn't want to have to take them out again either! Poor Freddy, although I'm sure it is a long and grueling process for him to recover from Folco's death he is getting better, it is nice to see that some of his grief is for Bergil as well. Looking forward to more and seeing how they continue to progress, in health for some and their journey! Author Reply: Yes, Beri was just enough older than Merry to remember a few things that Merry probably was too young to recall. I am sure that not only did he see some of Frodo's depression, but that he also saw the reactions of the grown-ups at the Hall to it. It just seemed to me that in a small little community so very dependent on the River, that swimming would be a survival skill taught young. But of course, young Bucklanders would often marry hobbits from the Shire, and those lads and lasses would not know how to swim. I don't much imagine there will be a lot of call for it either, but as you said, better be on the safe side. The Men are a bit disgusted with them. But at least they wouldn't drown right off the bat if they fell in the water, and that's the important thing. Well, his grief for Bergil is sort of mingled with his grief for Folco. Bergil's friendship and acceptance have been part of Freddy's healing process. He would be devestated to lose that now. Their journey is briefly halted for now, but soon it will resume.

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