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Consequences of a Fall by Dreamflower	8 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 8/23/2006
Slough off the fool, Reggie. You don't deserve misery of her sort! Lovely that all should fall to nothing for her, and that Merry gets his desired visit with Pippin. And poor Pearl--stuck with those awful pearls. I'd have been tempted to strangle Ferumbras with them, myself.

Indigo Bunting	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/14/2006
Well, here I am, all caught up. Hyacinth needs a good spanking. I don’t believe I’ll spank my children when I have them – I was disciplined in other ways – but someone should have molded her character better a long time ago. Is this an example of a child who never learned that ‘no means no’? I can see her willful nature arising in childhood and running unchecked… until here we are, with Hyacinth contemplating murder. I’m very glad that Pippin is all right. I wonder how Hyacinth came to be disgraced, though. Did it have anything to do with what she almost did? Was Merry the only one to notice the fallen cushion, or did Primrose see it, too? Even if Primrose did see it, it’s not solid evidence of guilt at all. Well, whatever happened, I’m sure you’ll tell us eventually. :) Can’t wait for the next update, Dreamflower! I am thoroughly enjoying this lovely story! Author Reply: Again, a lot of Hyacinth's backstory has not yet been told, and the rest is in "A New Reckoning". But let's add a bit of other info that I've never really revealed before: she has both Clayhanger (Lalia's maiden name) and Bracegirdle in her ancestry (the Bracegirdles were the family that produced Lobelia) and you know how much store JRRT set by inheriting family traits. And she spent her own childhood listening to a mother who felt she had married "beneath" herself, and being told how much "better" she was than the other hobbits around her. As to Hyacinth's disgrace, it doesn't happen until nearly a year after the Quest, when her reactions to some things cause her mask to slip. All of this is told in "A New Reckoning"--and her hostility to Pippin, though never her secret intention, does come out, and Paladin bans her from the Great Smials. Actually, her secret and greatest fear is that somehow, someday, someone might know what she thought of doing... We are drawing near to the end of this one, delayed only by some computer troubles my beta has been having.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/14/2006
Oooh, I really would like to see Hyacinth learning something - but she seems to be terminally stupid. Although probably not quite stupid enough to put herself somewhere she could become an orc's lunch. It would be rather nice - in a few years (possibly post-Ferumbras) - for Pearl to give those pearls to Begonia (was that her name?), who had spent years serving the old bat with very little respect, consideration or reward. Good thing that Merry got to lie down so he can sleep - he's running on empty now. And poor Reggie. Although he makes the rod for his own back - Hyacinth is a bully and would probably back down if he faced up to her, but his response just encourages her to do her worst behind everyone's back. Author Reply: She does learn--just not what she really needs to learn. But at least she has learned that actual murder is probably too risky to attempt again. And she is stupid, as well. Hmm...I'll have to give that particular bunny some thought...I like that scenario! Yes, he's exhausted. He will be very glad, I think, to go home. Poor Reggie, he simply takes the line of least resistance for the most part--for a number of reasons that seem good to him, but probably are not, really. His problem, I think, is that there really isn't anyone he can confide in. Paladin might listen sympathetically, but imagine his reaction if he learns why Reggie got turned off of Hyacinth. And Ferumbras is too selfish. So Reggie bumbles along without any help or advice.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/13/2006
Well so far, Merry is the closest to guessing what Hyacinth had been up to. No one will ever guess though. It wouldn't ever occur to them to consider such a thing, even in light of all the gossip Hyacinth has been spreading around. Rather ironic really, she's been trying to get everyone to believe that Pearl purposely let Lalia fall, and here she was about to smother Pippin. Author Reply: Yes, that was a lot of irony, I thought. No, Merry couldn't have guessed. Hobbits are simply not accustomed to that sort of perfidy--after all, they've never had a murder in the Shire, according to JRRT himself.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/13/2006
Too bad Merry didn't guess the real deal that went on while Hyacinth was watching over Pippin! I'd like to see your Merry unleashed on Hyacinth...then again, he's not quite old enough to do what he did to Clovis and Cado--and she doesn't have the right equipment. Too bad. I feel so bad for Reggie--he deserves someone so much better than her. Pippinfan Author Reply: It's probably just as well--he's far too young yet to deal with the sort of trauma that kind of anger would bring him. To know someone would deliberately try to do something to his Pippin? Well, the Banks only more or less accidentally nearly killed him--I'm not sure I'd want to imagine his fury if he could have read Hyacinth's mind! Yes, Reggie really got a raw deal.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/13/2006
If anyone* should ever find out that she had even considered such a thing... She would just put it out of her thoughts and never ever run such a risk again.* Well, well ... I'm afraid that doesn't work so easily ;-) Even Hyacinth seems to have at least some sort of bad conscience. It makes me a little wistful to see on the one hand Merry making "plans for fishing and boating and swimming and pranking" with Pippin, and on the other hand Frodo and Pearl having to deal with the complicated ways of adults. It's really not so long ago that these two were children themselves. But Pearl has her wise auntie, and Frodo has his Merry. That should do, I think :) Author Reply: I'm not so sure it's a rudimentary conscience as it is her hobbit instincts rebelling against her un-hobbity thoughts and actions. Yes, at this point, socially the three cousins are as far apart as they can be--Pippin is still a young child, Merry has just entered his tweens, and Frodo is now an adult. While their love and closeness are as deep as ever, the opportunities to be together are going to be a lot more limited for a few years. Pearl's aunties will take care of her, indeed. And Frodo is never far from Merry's thoughts.

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/12/2006
"He did not often have the satisfaction of putting one over on his overbearing wife. It made it all the sweeter when he did." Treasured small victories :) All is ending well . . . for everyone except Hyacinth. LOL Loving it, just loving it :) Author Reply: Yes, poor Reggie has to take the victories he can; it will be several years and a lot of heartbreak before he is shed of her.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/12/2006
I am usually the first to find the best in the worst of people and even feel sorry for Gollum but, really, Hyacinth is beyond the pale and deserves all that she gets. Long may she be troubled by her near miss even though she is bothered for all the wrong reasons. Poor, poor Reggie. Have you written about how he came to marry her? (I am ashamed to admit that I have forgotten.) And I am so glad that Pearl is surrounded by wise Aunts. That gives this Maiden Aunt hope. :) But I am not sure that my only Nephew will appreciate me quite so much. And I am glad, too, that Pippin and Merry will get to finish their visit together. Author Reply: Hyacinth is most certainly an unnatural hobbit, and really very selfish and wicked. I've never actually written the story of it, although I do explain it in a "biography" of her that I posted as an exercise on LJ. I believe it is on the "there and back" community. Basically, she got him to fall in love with her, even though she didn't love him. And it took a few years for the blinders to come off. Well, if your Nephew is ever framed for pushing an unpleasant cousin out of a wheelchair, you will know just what advice to give him. wink I just couldn't let that pass. They need their time together.

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