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Just Desserts by Lindelea	8 Review(s)
Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/12/2007
'Gwill o'Dale, and Gwillam and Robin, sons of Gwill,' Pippin said grandly, raising his voice though silence reigned in the market place. 'I proclaim you Shire-friends, nay, heroes of the Shire, who have, with your selfless and courageous actions, won the gratitude of Thain...' '...and Master,' put in Merry, at Pippin's side. '...and Mayor!' Samwise said decidedly from the Thain's other side. '...and so, we grant you and your descendants the freedom of the Shire, from now and henceforth!' Pippin said, extending three rolls of parchment, each tied with a bright ribbon. Gwill took a shaky breath, and his eyes glimmered with tears as he looked to the King. 'My Lord?' he whispered. Elessar nodded with a smile. Who was he to gainsay Master, Mayor, and Thain? ``````` How precious. This brought tears to my eyes. Tari Author Reply: Thanks! It was one of the scenes I was working towards, all through the angst. Whew. Appreciate your taking the time to drop a line!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 12/2/2005
Am catching up. Yes, MOST appropriate consequences, and certainly as fine a set of consequences as possible. After all, these are Hobbits by adoption now, and have had a positive impact on the Shire since before Pippin's birth, even, in the case of Gwillam! Lovely, lovely, lovely! Author Reply: I really think that Gwill would have retired in the Shire, when he became too old to wander, if the King's edict had not stood in his way. Now it is so lovely, that things have been changed around to allow him to spend as much time there as he wishes. (Of course, he is a granfather now, and probably wouldn't remove to the Shire entirely.) Thanks for the encouraging words!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 11/26/2005
Might Haleth join the trip to Gondor? That would be rather fun! Author Reply: Hmmm. Interesting notion. Hadn't thought about that. Author Reply: Update: Yes. Definitely. Wouldn't be the same without him.

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 11/26/2005
I wasn't fooled for a moment, I knew all was being fixed up for the family to return to :) Such a wonderful chapter! Do you have horses? Not many people would know about dressing the horses hooves, it was a wonderful fine point that added to the description of the grandure of the occasion. "Elessar nodded with a smile. Who was he to gainsay Master, Mayor, and Thain?" Indeed, he knows better ;) MEWD!! Author Reply: Pretty hard to fool you! I used to have a horse, though sadly I've given up riding. I ruined my knees, running, and cannot ride without so much pain that it spoils the pleasure. But I still have fond memories of that marvellous feeling of having contact with the horse's mouth, such that I could feel the working of its tongue and it could feel the merest twitch of my fingers... the feeling of being so in tune that a shift of my weight in the saddle brought a response... ah, but those were the days. Thanks!

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 11/26/2005
Elessar nodded with a smile. Who was he to gainsay Master, Mayor, and Thain? Has he ever tried? Trying to say no to just Pippin would be difficult enough, but all three of them? Perhaps the only one who could get away with that would be Arwen. Pippin has been busy, hasn't he. He wasn't just arranging a vacation. This honoring ceremony has many hobbit touches to it. First of all, the public honoring in response to the public shaming reminds me very much of Frodo-lad's treatment at the end of "Truth". And of course, the homey touches inside the shop, from food to herbal sachets, seems hobbity too. Sparkling horses, however, that seems pure Elvish. Or maybe not - I seem to remember a young rapscallion gilding pony hooves once. Do Gwill and Gwillam get to keep the fancy cloaks? (where would they ever wear them, I wonder) The mercy and justice of the king have been well established. The steward, however, might still need some rehabilitation in the eyes of the populace. I can't help but think that his upcoming vacation and replacement by his brother is going to be seen as punishment, or at least censure, by the merchants of the town. How is Elessar going to address this? I wonder if Old Gwill will retire to the Shire at some point? I can see a little house for him in the South Farthing, but I suppose that isn't practical to take him from the family who cares for him. Maybe he could be buried there. Author Reply: Hmmm. Now I wonder if Arwen has ever had occasion to say "No" to Pippin? There are hobbity touches to the celebration, certainly, and Elessar might have been influenced by hearing the story of Frodo-lad's "fall" and restoration, but I think much of the pomp and circumstance comes from the King, though he has toned it down considerably from what it might have been, had they been in Minas Tirith. And the hobbits had input into the homey touches, I'm sure, but it is Arwen in my mind who was the guiding force behind the spring cleaning. She is, after all, daughter of the Last Homely House, a perfect house, as Bilbo said. And yes, the horses are definitely Elvish in their decoration. The mithril silver was a clue to that. Good catch! I'm pretty sure they give the fancy cloaks back. g They won't need them for riding in any more parades, and after all, they're pretty used to a quiet life. Keep in mind that the Steward has been Steward for the past ten years, not just the past two. He had eight good years of being firm and fair, for he was truly a wise choice on Elessar's part, and his decline into bitterness was not overnight but so gradual that it was sort of like the frog-in-boiling-water phenomenon. The upcoming "vacation" could be seen as punishment, but Elessar is clever enough to put it in the right light--what a high honour it would be, to escort the son of the Ernil and perhaps the son of the Mayor (that plot point is not yet hammered out) to Gondor, retracing the Ring-bearer's Quest. Why, if Elessar cannot go himself, then he is sending his most-trusted man in his place. And with Pippin's endorsement (and remember, he first met the Steward ten years ago, and though he didn't get to know him well, he thought well of the man up until this particular visit), well, who could go wrong with Pippin's endorsement? And yes, I think that Gwill must return to the Shire in the warm season. If you might recall, from "Glisters", Diamond intended to gift the family with gold. They ought to be able to travel in comfort, even enough for an old man in frail health. And, without the stress of living under a sword (was that Damocles?) I even think Jack's health will improve greatly! Can't you imagine his joy, openly taking Will and Rob to show them all the places he remembers? And yes, though I don't think I could write it, in my mind is the knowledge that some day his sons will carry him back to the Shire at the end, to be buried on top of a great hill with a panoramic view of the Shire. Thanks! Author Reply: The upcoming "vacation" could be seen as punishment, but Elessar is clever enough to put it in the right light--what a high honour it would be, to escort the son of the Ernil and perhaps the son of the Mayor (that plot point is not yet hammered out) to Gondor, retracing the Ring-bearer's Quest. Just an update, to let you know, as you were so generous in sharing your thoughts and impressions over the years, helping me to work through many a thorny character development. The Travellers will include the son of the Ernil, yes, and definitely a son of the Mayor... and the son of the Master was added as well, as the draft of the new story took shape. Hopefully to begin posting as soon as one of the current WIPs is finished, later in the summer or by September at the latest. Hope this finds you and yours well.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 11/26/2005
Very public restitution. Just what you need. Not just get out of jail free, but gloriously decorated horses, king's cloaks, King and Steward walking at your side, and a very loud announcement of inestimable honour. Yep. I think the population of Annuminas will have got the message. And Jack - if he is well enough - will be able to visit the place he considers above all others to be his home. Even if he is never fit enough, he will know he can. I think this episode will actually serve to strengthen the power of the king in the north. Considerably. He has been seen to be someone who will make every effort to be fair and generous in the way he deals with people in his care. Such a satisfying chapter. Jack shall have his Jill, Naught will go ill, The man shall have his mare again And all will be well. (Although the third line could be replaced with - The king is on his throne again.) Author Reply: Ah yes, perfect rhyme. Or perhaps And Jack shall have his Shire again. Just knowing he can ought to be enough, I suppose, but I find myself wanting him to go back and see the Shire, and such wonders as the Mallorn tree that grows in the Party field, and yes, perhaps even cook breakfast for the Gamgees in Bag End's kitchen, for old times' sake. Well, they always thought well of old Gwill, but now the people of Annuminas know what the hobbits think of him as well! And so satisfying, to have the mysterious rescuer's identity revealed!

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 11/26/2005
Each with plenty of signatures in red ink I trust. A truly satisfying chapter Lindelea. Just what the healer ordered after all that angst! Author Reply: Oh yes, plenty of signatures, and those of the most eminent hobbits in the Shire! Mayor, Master, and Thain, their wives, of course, and two heroes of Tookland (Hilly and Ferdi) for starters. I think heaping up the blessings is a great way to let off angst!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 11/26/2005
Seledrith kissed him on the cheek. 'You are an old dear,' she said, 'nothing more... and nothing less.' 'I beg to differ!' Denny said from behind them, Merileth on his arm. 'A great deal more, I'd say!' Yes, a great deal more indeed! I just loved Aragorn giving his cloak, and the whole procession! I love that everyone is going to see the injustice completely corrected. But the best part of all? 'Gwill o'Dale, and Gwillam and Robin, sons of Gwill,' Pippin said grandly, raising his voice though silence reigned in the market place. 'I proclaim you Shire-friends, nay, heroes of the Shire, who have, with your selfless and courageous actions, won the gratitude of Thain...' '...and Master,' put in Merry, at Pippin's side. '...and Mayor!' Samwise said decidedly from the Thain's other side. '...and so, we grant you and your descendants the freedom of the Shire, from now and henceforth!' Pippin said, extending three rolls of parchment, each tied with a bright ribbon. Gwill took a shaky breath, and his eyes glimmered with tears as he looked to the King. 'My Lord?' he whispered. Elessar nodded with a smile. Who was he to gainsay Master, Mayor, and Thain? Deep sigh of great satisfaction!! Those hobbits know just what they are doing! Author Reply: O yes, that proclamation was the seed for the whole story. It has taken a while to write all the way from the end of "Glisters" to this point! And now we have a scene around the table, and an Epilogue, and I think we can wrap this story up... don't even need the shiny bow, really, because all the sparkle's been supplied in this chapter, I think.

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