Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Tenant from Staddle by Larner	10 Review(s)
harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/24/2007
Indulging myself in a reread Larner now that life has calmed back down a little although it is still my busiest time of the year! When I got to this bit Somehow he’d managed to gain title to most of the inns and all of the major mills of the Shire and far, far more of the major homes and farms than was good for anyone. One of my primary goals as deputy Mayor has been to learn just how Lotho did this, and what I have learned with the aid of the Took lawyers who agreed to assist me is that he did so by perverting our body of law. I suddenly thought of the game of monopoly. Do you have that in the States or ever play it over here? It is a board game where the players try to acquire property, build houses and hotels and charge rent to others who land on the property. The aim is to acquire the most wealth and bankrupt your opponants. I have even seen a LOTR version. I shall never play it again without thinking of this story! Author Reply: Oh, remember that the original game of Monopoly was written to reflect Atlantic City, New Jersey. I've been playing Monopoly all my life and own the LOTR version as well. Yes, am well aware of it. And that Lotho's machinations remind you of it is somehow pleasing. Yes, Lotho was doing his own version of Monopoly, wasn't he? A wonderful metaphor! Thank you! Those trying to invade the Breelands had no true inside support save from a few ne'er-do-wells such as Bill Ferny and Harry at the Gate; within the Shire, on the other hand, they had an ally who thought he was in charge of them rather than the other way around, and who had plenty of properties they could perch on and work from with no legal recourse by the rest of the Shire to getting them expelled. With Lotho controlling who could and couldn't mill flour for bread as well as shutting down the major places where Hobbits might get together easily to talk and plot against himself and his Big Men, those Big Men had a far easier time of it there. The Shire needed the confidence Merry and Pippin brought them to get the ruffians out. Hope you enjoy the next chapter that I was finally able to post this evening--Hughes.net has again been very spotty, and is driving me crazy trying to get on long enough to get things posted.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/27/2006
Grad school must be getting to me. I know I read this chapter when you first posted it, and for the life of me I can't remember why I didn't review it. Anyway, here I am. Frodo is just as calm, sober, and logical as one would expect of him. On to the next chapter! Author Reply: Having been in grad school myself, I know what you mean Yes, poor Frodo is all to sober, I fear; but at the moment the Shire needs that sobriety and the clearness of his logic. Glad you could take time to write.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/20/2006
I like the idea of the Shire maybe influecing Aragorn's law making. Author Reply: I like the idea as well. I'm sure that Arnor has quite a history of law, but that most of the past thousand years has been so involved in working at survival that it hasn't gotten a great deal of activity. That most of Shire law is contract law and not criminal law must seem odd to any Men who pay attention, and I would think would be the envy of Aragorn and probably many of his ancestors as well.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/19/2006
I wish OUR lawyers could sit down and talk together like this! :) Author Reply: You and me both, Radbooks. Have to get back on FFN and finish the second Thomas&Rebecca story. It is SO wonderful! And check out Moments in Time if you have a chance--have written a few you haven't seen yet.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/19/2006
I'm glad he's not going to be a lawyer. He'd be marvelous being so conscientious but it doesn't feel right. Poor dear with that headache. I want to give him some aspirin or something, but maybe Sam will follow him and take care of things, huh? Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: If he were to indeed accept election as Mayor for a full seven-year term, Frodo would do well to fully appreciate Shire Law; but as he's already wondering if he'll accept at all, I think he'd not want to invest the study for information he'll not even use. And I think that Sam will see to that headache, if Mina doesn't, of course. But in our next chapter we'll be going back a few months.... And God bless, Antane.

SurgicalSteel	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/18/2006
This was another great chapter - interesting how the study of languages made Frodo so attuned to different nuances in legal documents, good to see Frodo representing the king. I can easily see the ruffians having done everything you depict them as having done - goodness knows worse atrocities than those happen when a country's occupied, and the ruffians essentially were an enemy occupation force. Author Reply: My major was special ed, but my minor was speech and communication--the very placement of a word as well as all the nuances of facial and body language and tone of voice all give what we say far more meaning than the words alone. And in the written word it can take so little for meaning to be utterly changed. I like to think that Frodo's background did have such an impact on what he was able to understand as deputy Mayor. As for what the ruffians did--as you said, this was indeed an occupying army. I went a bit more into the examination of their atrocities in "The Acceptable Sacrifice," but in this one as I'm focusing so on the legal aspects I've tried to stay on track. And the more I read of Serinde the more I like her.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/18/2006
Yes I can just imagine that a hobbit like Bernigard would want to evaluate what he has heard by seeing for himself. Frodo will find it hard to hide much from him I guess. Glad he is there. That is quite a procession coming into the hall. Loved Sam and the flowers touch. Made me wonder what Sam was wearing for the occasion. Absolutely adored the impressive way that Frodo starts the meeting and presents his credentials as the King's Representative. He certainly knows how to sweeten the pill with the compliments about the governance of the Shire. It makes me wonder how the Thain and the Master are taking this. I am impressed with the way that Frodo manages to lay out the current situation in the Shire so simply and gets the Lawyers to work together to begin to tackle the issue of wording. I have been part of many an In-service training using this technique and it can be very effective, if rather slow! Definitely need a smaller group but, as is often the way, if you ask for volunteers you get precisely the one person you wanted to leave out of it volunteering for the prestige of it. However, give Lothario enough rope and he might just hang himself! I am glad, for his own sake, that Frodo gets to lay out clearly his own part in selling Bag End etc. And in the end the questioning gets too close for comfort so Frodo withdraws yet again. Great chapter Larner. Author Reply: One doesn't get to be the senior lawyer in the Shire and the master of the guild without looking for evidence as to what's truly going on, and I think Bernigard would want to see. Knowing it wouldn't be a fully comfortable meeting for Frodo, I think Sam would want to hearten his friend and Master as he could, and so would bring flowers to reassure him the beauty is still there and that the beauty of his mother still supports him. But as he's no lawyer he sits at the back and watches, and so I didn't think what he might have been wearing. Shall it be the surcoat he wore to the coronation also? That would be most fitting, of course. I've been through those inservice meetings as well, and thought the brainstorming idea to get all aware of what the true problem is and how they could work together to see it put right just seemed right for this situation. Once the whole group is invested in seeing the process started it becomes easier to get the proper committee going. The one canny with words is on it, but Frodo makes certain one most aware of what Lothario is capable of and whose own basic honesty is beside him to keep him in line and focused on making certain Lothario is now helping put right what he helped damage before. I suspect it was a combination of the meeting and the questioning that's set the headache in motion, but certainly he is beating a hasty retreat. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/18/2006
Frodo made an interesting relation between the translation of Elvish and the wording of legal contracts. Hadn't thought much about it until now, but he is right - it was a good training for his ability to note all the nuances in the wording. This conference was much needed, I think, to sensitise all lawyers to the problem, and Frodo did a very good job in explaining and leading this all in the right way. Loved the idea of Frodo representing Aragorn there, btw. But I don't feel comfortable to know Lothario, of all people, is in the group to continue this. Well, at least Frodo did what he could and gave him Bartolo to oversee him a bit. Now I only wonder how much mischief Lothario got into before the invalid marriage contract for Beasty and Forsythia years later broke his neck. Good to know Pal is at least not denying there is again a king at all, only because Aragorn was present when Pippin was in danger ;) And Berni got to know first hand that Frodo truly isn't well and certainly not up to be his apprentice. I think he had to see it himself to believe it. Hopefully he will listen to Frodo and take Persivo instead. Author Reply: I'm certain that as you've studied English it has helped you appreciate the complexity of your own language, just as my own study of Spanish has helped me with my better appreciation of English. Just a slight change of wording can so send the meaning of a sentence or phrase down a completely different path, after all. In this case I do think that Aragorn would have wished for Frodo to represent him and the wider realm's interest in making certain language used in legal contracts is sufficiently precise it can't easily be twisted, although if your country's legalese is as strange as ours can be I find that it can be far too open to interpretation the more they try to pin it down to specific meanings. Frodo's doing his best to make certain Lothario's facility with language is used to help attack the problem rather than adding to it; and I think that for once Bartolo is going to appreciate his son's insights into the problem as he sits on these committee meetings alongside his cousin. It's getting harder and harder to disbelieve in there being a King; but Paladin is still at the moment invested in avoiding acceptance his beloved son was in grave danger out there. And Berni by this time in his life and career knows the value of eye-witness evidence, and sees for himself Frodo isn't what he was before he left the Shire.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/17/2006
Wow, I've actually finally managed to catch up! About time, considering how much it's grown since I looked last. Since I've read really fast every spare minute I had for the past two days, this review might be choppy and out of order. I really love the way you show us different individuals, and especially Frodo, through the eyes of others so much in this story. Seeing someone from another characters perspective tells so much more than narrative, I think. You do it so naturally, especially when writing from Bob's perspective, that it really gives a fresh view to Frodo, Merry, Pippin and other familiar figures. I'd love to see Bob and Sam make one another's acquaintance. I have a feeling they'd get along very well. Also I like that so much of the story is told through natural, everyday conversation, as if you'd listened, written what you heard, and then added the narrative necessary to make the rest clear. It's all so like the Shire, from Amanda's rather foolish gossip to the chatter at the party to the repeated rehashing of the events of the Time of Troubles. Just like Hobbits to tell a story over and over and over again till some listeners would go mad, and still not be tired of it. And if Bartolo isn't one of the most contradictory Hobbits! What's the matter with him? He's as honest a lawyer as you could wish for, unless I'm very badly mistaken, but he certainly has his fair share of his families sour spirit. It seems sometimes as if he's arguing with himself, and it reminds me a little, in an odd way, of Smeagol. He hates Frodo, or says he does, tries to, and makes it disgustingly plain to everyone just how he claims to feel. And yet when Frodo is in distress what does he do? He's as solicitous as it's possible for him to be to someone whom he doesn't love deeply, even insisting that Frodo ought to eat and drink more. That comment about carrying Frodo to his grave made me want to take him by the collar and tell him a thing or two that would make his blood run cold and keep him from sleeping well for several weeks; and yet the next moment I could almost forgive him. Infuriating. I really hope, for his sake and everyone else's, that the good wins out and he learns a couple of lessons from Persivo. That one will make an excellent lawyer and reminds me very much of both Frodo and Brendi. No wonder Frodo was touched by so many of the claims for reparations. That those ruffians would steal innocent children and beat a little girl's dog to death simply for doing what came naturally to it is so cruel. Oh dear, they're all going to have their hands full with that Lothario. Too smooth and clever. Yes, Saruman must have appreciated him very much indeed, if he could appreciate a Hobbit at that point. Poor Alma. Oh, and one more thing: I do hope poor Frodo learns not to fear loyal Lister and gets his really good laugh in the end! :) God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: So good to see you have time to read at last, and am looking forward to your next chapters. I am so honored you find the conversation natural seeming and that it helps you with the flow of the story. And it is through the different points of view we come to know all our characters best and the story feels most fully told. It will be a time before Sam and Bob meet, I fear; but I'm certain you're right that the two of them will enjoy one another thoroughly. The Big Men were an occupying force, as Harrowcat notes in her review; that they would commit so many of the atrocities common to such forces seemed logical; and that extremes of coersive techniques would have been used at times also seemed probable. And such as Bill Ferny would never have thought twice about killing someone else's dog, I think. There was a very specific reason why Bartolo wanted Bag End and why he resents it having gone back to Frodo, although that will only come out in time. But at heart he's a decent enough individual, but far, far too full of his own resentments. And right now the resentment is overwhelming everything else, although it doesn't stop him from recognizing Frodo's far from as strong as he puts out. And now he feels like Frodo railroaded him onto that committee in today's chapter. He is feeling so many contradictory things it's quite driving the poor Bracegirdle crazy, I think. But he truly loves his eldest, and wants the best for him. Frodo knows his fear of dogs is irrational, and I'm certain he's trying to talk himself out of it as I do when I know I have to get a shot--just before I run out of the doctor's office in terror. Phobias are so stupid, but it doesn't stop them from bothering all of us.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/17/2006
Very thorough and well-thought out! I like the process you have arranged in your Shire for the setting up of laws and regulations--that is, a consensus between those most concerned. It is only very slightly different than what I envision. I've no idea what JRRT actually imagined--he is tantalizingly close-mouthed about such things, except to indicate that hobbits of the Shire seem to barely have any government. But we know that even minimal government takes more work and effort than most people think. And actually, it probably takes more work than a dictatorship--a tyrant can simply declare what he wants, and punish those who don't agree, whereas in this sort of situation, the groundwork for agreement and compromise must be laid. I am glad that Bernigard can see for himself that Frodo is not physically up to the offer he made; at least he won't be offended at Frodo's refusal. It's interesting that Paladin is present as Thain, since this is during the time he's still in denial about what must have happened while the Travellers were gone. I wonder what he thought of some of these revelations, and how they would have affected his mindset. Yet, of course, he could not have missed so important a meeting, even if he'd wanted to. Am I right in thinking that this is still fairly early after the return? Before Sam and Rosie marry? We've still a ways to go then, before Timono gets his just deserts... Author Reply: You're very right that such a near anarchic state as the Shire enjoys does take more true thought than a dictatorship, and so they set up groups of the most interested to see to it that all is done as properly as possible; and it's likely a similar conference will be held in at most a year's time to agree on the new terms. Berni recognizes Frodo's not as he was, and he's gone from fifty-looking-like-a-newly-minted-adult to fifty-one looking much older than his years in just over a year's time. This conference was the last act of business Frodo saw to before Sam's wedding, so it will be a time yet before Lothario gets his just desserts--too long, perhaps, considering how he always lets others set the way and he just follows it and so is able to appear to be just a follower and so is able to avoid the full consequences due him. No one in the Shire can disagree on what Lotho and his Big Men accomplished in the year and a month the Travellers were gone; the Ents Pippin mentions could be an army of Men as far as most are concerned; and it's easier to think of the King mentioning Shire law positively than accepting that before that could happen there was an Enemy to defeat who was doing all he could to get his hands on Frodo and his companions. Paladin just doesn't find a great deal to disbelieve in letters from King and Steward that are focused primarily on what Lotho and his group did to pervert the law. This is something Paladin can understand, and he doesn't have to believe his son was in the hands of Uruk-hai being orc-dragged across Anorien and Rohan in order to do so. Anyway, thanks for the feedback!

Return to Chapter List