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Thain by Lindelea	8 Review(s)
Citrine	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/20/2005
Uh-oh, I see trouble ahead. It makes me sad to see hobbits sucking up to Pippin just because he's going to be Thain, but I suppose that's inevitable. It makes me feel a little better that Pippin isn't stuck up. You did an excellent job here of showing Pippin's days as Thain-in-training. Hilly's the one who deserves a switch across the palm, the snobby little b...varmint. Author Reply: ...just because he's going to be Thain. It's part of human nature, isn't it? I don't think hobbits are immune. And, considering how I chose to portray Lalia, it's possible that not all of them are social climbers, but simply seeking some sort of "insurance" if Pippin turns out to be a whimsical Thain. (Which he does, but not in a negative way, thankfully.) Hilly is really a... ummm... brat in his tween years. But it gives him room for growth. I hope it doesn't make fans of the future mature Hilly angry! I had a very stern review from someone who was mad that I wrote Pippin as immature, irresponsible, and thoughtless after he returned from the Quest. Guess he was supposed to be all grown up in every way when he came back and was plunged into his old place and old associations... Anyhow, I saw Pippin sort of slipping into the careless ways of the spoilt tweens at the Smials, when he wasn't living at Crickhollow. It's so easy to do, when you are surrounded by the "old crowd", especially when they resist change.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/20/2005
This is fascinating, whether you're happy with it or not. The personalities of the hobbits that they will become are there, but all awkward and sharp angles and much to learn. Hilly wants to become part of the escort, but he hasn't learned yet how much of his own pride he'll have to give up to become worthy of the place. He's at that very dangerous place in the task of maturing, where he's got to decide what kind of hobbit he wants to be, and no longer go on past accidents of position or talent or circumstance. At this point it looks like it could go either way. I wonder what it will take for him to look past Ferdi's own particular brand of baggage and need, and see the hobbit's worth? For that matter, I can't remember how Ferdi achieves his own redemption. By the way I love Pippin here. He's just being himself, and shining like a star. And absorbing the lessons that matter, which are how to deal with the Tooks in all their forms. He's always been a charmer, and a very good judge of character. Author Reply: I find change and development of character (whether good or bad) a fascinating topic. Hilly will remain rather unpleasant, at least towards Ferdi, until a few chapters into "Flames" where he has a bad scare: he comes perilously close to a false accusation for a banishable offence. If you recall, the way I set up justice, a false accusation rates the same sentence as the crime you're accused of. There is probably consideration given to whether you were acting in malice or in good faith, I'm sure. But going back to read a few chapters in "Flames" last night I see that Hilly's attitude towards Ferdi was bitter and rather malicious--he was probably jealous of Pippin's friendship. It is only after that incident (the holes dug in the racecourse) that the blinders come off, he and Ferdi begin working together to keep the ruffians out of the Tookland, and a friendship begins to grow. "Thain" is not a happy tale for Ferdi, for the most part. It ends as "Flames" is beginning, and if you remember, Ferdi was running away, now that Pippin was "dead" and gone, when that story started. Author Reply: meant to say "a false accusation rates the same sentence as the crime you're accusing someone else of" Goodness. Is that a dangling participle before my eyes? My mom always hated those things.

Garnet Took	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/19/2005
Interesting. Hilly sure has a long way to go before he becomes the hobbit he is in later stories. I don't like him much right now, I must confess. Poor Ferdi. I'm glad that Pippin sees more in him than the rest of the lads do. Pippin is a good judge of people, and compassionate himself, usually. I never pictured Pippin and Thain Ferumbras getting along. I don't know why; I just never did. Hope you can update this soon, it's been a long time. I understand that yu had some bad luck simular to mine with this story. Glad to see you back at work on it. I hope to get some done on rebuilding mine in the next few days. Thanks. Garnet Took. Author Reply: I don't like Hilly much, myself. He's a bit stuck on himself, and a bully besides. I'm afraid he's not going to be very likeable in this story, either, for he doesn't come around to Ferdi's side until partway into "Flames", and this story will probably end just where "Flames" starts out. Pippin remembers the Ferdi that "was", and he also remembers that his sister is still in love with Ferdi... Perhaps he hopes that Ferdi might recover someday, gain back something of what he was before the fire. (As Ferdi does, eventually, and more.) I'm glad you're working on rebuilding yours. Will be thinking good thoughts in your direction. Author Reply: (I meant, of course, that I don't like Hilly much in this particular story! Over the course of the timeline I find him a fascinating figure.)

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/19/2005
This is a Hilly that I have never seen before. He's quite the little trouble maker, isn't he? LOL If he and Pippin do join forces then the Thain may have his hands full with them. I like that they are made to take good care of the ponies before and after riding and I laughed at Pippin's archery skills or lack of skills I should say. Great chapter. Glad this one is continuing. I had missed it. Author Reply: Yes, Hilly in all the later stories is a staunch friend of Ferdi, and in "All that Glisters" he comes close to hero-worship, I think. But in the early chapters of "Flames" he's still pretty nasty to Ferdi, condescending at best and at worst, something of a lout. I laugh at Pippin's lack of archery skills too. I thought it an interesting quirk, though IRL I have no idea how plausible it would be to be a pretty good stone-thrower and terrible archer. This one is going in fits and starts. There's actually quite a bit of "Bucca" that's been recreated but the Pippin chapters are not co-operating as nicely. Thanks!

Beruthiel	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/19/2005
Poor Pippin, stuck with such boring lessons day after day. Fortunately, Isum's lessons seem to make up for that. Interesting to see Hilly acting bullyish toward Ferdi. Typical for his age, but still a bit of a surprise, considering what good friends they are in the future. This reminds me of "Flames", when Hilly suspected Ferdi of tampering with the racecourse, and made some sort of remark about burning the stables down (will have to go reread). I wonder when he changed his mind about Ferdi's usefulness. Good to see that Pippin sticks up for Ferdi. Author Reply: Yes, you're spot on. Hilly was quite nasty towards Ferdi in the early chapters of "Flames". His attitude changed only after he came dangerously close to a false accusation--which bears the same penalty as the crime itself, at least the way "Flames" is written. He was on his best behaviour after that, and gradually a friendship grew up between them as they worked together to keep the ruffians out of the Tookland. I haven't re-visited "Flames" in quite a while, but I seem to remember that Hilly was one of the few that stuck with Ferdi during his troubles between the Battle of Bywater and Pippin's becoming Thain.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/19/2005
Ah, Hilly, if you only knew just how capable that "half-wit" actually is! Better think of feeling him out, for he's well worth the knowing. Love the pony lesson and that Pippin realizes Ferdi's worth. Wonderful. Author Reply: I remember seeing my dressage instructor get on my stiff-necked, hard-mouthed horse (abused by a previous owner and quite a challenge), and seeing that horse turn into a picture of a classic pose, and then that woman (who probably weighed 98 pounds dripping wet) put that horse through a whole bunch of paces, including some advanced moves that I know that horse had never done before, yet so well were the aids applied that I scarcely saw a muscle move in my instructor's legs and arms. In the all-too-brief years that I took lessons from her, I learned so very much about hands, legs, and seat. (There are four aids that I remember but for some reason the fourth escapes me at the moment.) I have bad knees now, and ride very seldom these days, for it hurts. Ah, but I remember that floating feeling.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/19/2005
How interesting. I'm curious to see just how Hilly manages to overcome his case of tweenaged knowitall, and end up nice. Of course a good many people, human as well as hobbits, suffer from that ailment in adolescence, but this one sounds rather pernicious. Poor Ferdi. You know, I'm reminded of the icon for Faramir that says "there are enough days in the week for all the therapy I'm going to need". Ferdi too, has suffered more than his share of unfair angst. It's no wonder he ends up opinionated and suspicious. And Pippin seems to have adjusted well to life in the Great Smials. Maybe too well? Author Reply: Too well? Well, Hilly is still rather unpleasant in the early chapters of "Thain". He really doesn't start to change until he and Ferdi begin to work together to resist the ruffians during the Troubles. Unfair angst? Poor Ferdi. He really has lived the opposite of a charmed life, I suppose.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 11/19/2005
Oh dear. Hilly has got a lot of growing up to do before he becomes the admirable hobbit of later years. At the moment he is a rather unpleasantly spoilt brat. And I'm a bit worried what else he might be about to get up to. And MFH! Poor Ferdi. Goodness but there are some insensitive tweens round him! As if it's any wonder that he's not functioning like the rest of them. I'm glad Pippin is his usual eager self around him - he needs someone to treat him normally. Put him on a horse and he's free - perhaps it should happen more often. Fascinating chapter. Such a good look at many hobbits later famed in Shire memory! (How is Haldoron getting on?) Author Reply: Haldoron is asleep at the moment, which is where I'm headed. But with any luck he'll be awake again after the weekend. Hilly is definitely a spoilt brat, and unfortunately will remain one until the early chapters of "Flames". He's badly shaken, in that story, when he comes perilously close to falsely accusing Ferdi, even though the onus falls on the true culprit in that story. And as the Troubles grow, and Ferdi shows a certain talent for outwitting ruffians, Hilly's admiration grows. I think he's one of the few who sticks by Ferdi in his troubles between the Battle of Bywater and Pippin's becoming Thain, if I'm remembering correctly. Poor Ferdi. He won't have a pony of his own until he comes of age, and I think at the moment he's 27, so that's a few years off. But it's no wonder that when his Uncle Odo gives him Dapple, that she is so important to him.

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