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| The Road to Edoras by Dreamflower | 10 Review(s) |
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| Imhiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 7/21/2013 |
| He thought of the Lockholes, and how hobbits of the Shire had been locked up this way. At least, they’d been together, he supposed, for there had been so many of them. That's the hight of gall! Saying they were locking up so many of the Hobbits that they hadn't enough cells for each of them, and presenting it as an exculpating and self-pitying factor! *shakes head* and baths have been drawn.” Gimli made a face. *grin* Poor Gimli, has to make himself presentable and get rid of the comfortable dirt of travel! It makes me wonder if Legolas is in the habit of settling downwind from him not only when he smokes, but also when they have been on the road for a while... I so love Merry's letter to Éomer, particularly just how clear Merry's voice and tone and character come through. His description of the Banks brothers made me smile - he's obviously still fiercely affronted on Pippin's behalf, ever the protector. In fact, it may be one of my favourites among the many examples of letters you have given us in your stories (although a few of Pippin's "elaborate" epistles may come close *g*). Author Reply: Dago is, as you can probably tell by now, a totally self-centered creature, with only a modicum of empathy--which he does his best to squash whenever it rears its inconvenient head! I think Gimli just doesn't like the hassle of getting out of all his gear! But I imagine poor Legolas' nose gets a workout whenever he's in the midst of his beloved mortals. There is a trade-off for the pleasure of their company, LOL! Oh, I thank you so much! I love to write those various letters, and I admit, that one was a favorite as well. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/28/2007 |
| This is a great description of the room for the hobbits. It sounds so comfortable and I can almost smell the food. And what a contrast to the prison no wonder he is cursing Lotho! Legolas may be fast friends but you show their differences well. Gimli is right however, banishment is too short-sighted a punishment now the Shire is part of the wider world. And I love the letter! Author Reply: Yes, quite a contrast, isn't it? I am sneaking up on that theme. Sooner or later the Shire leaders will have to deal with the new reality! I'm glad you liked Merry's letter--it was a late addition to the chapter! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/27/2007 |
| (“I liked it very much. But that does not mean I liked everything about it. They are going to have to change their ways of dealing with their wrong-doers. Turning them out of the Shire and pretending they do not exist is not going to work any more, if it ever did.”) I do think Legolas has a very good point here. They do just turn out their problem-hobbits and let others deal with them. I loved Merry's letter. Author Reply: Yes, and this has been a theme running through several of my stories. It is not one that will be dealt with overnight, but it is one that has come to concern Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin a good deal, and they are in the process of convincing the Thain and Master that the system needs a major overhaul. *grin* I had so much fun with his letter; I had the majority of the chapter written long ago, but it seemed to short, so the letter was a late addition. And it turned out he had a lot more to say than I had thought he would! But I have some plans for Merry's correspondence with Eomer... | |
| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/26/2007 |
| Hi! I'm back. :-) There was so much to enjoy about this chapter! From the hobbits accepting their gracious accommodations, to Poppy's speaking to Clodio, the king's deliberation with his men, and finally to Merry's letter. Merry's letters are always a nice read! He must have some of Dora Baggins' blood in his veins... I paid close attention to Legolas' remark about the Shire dealing with her criminals. His comment was definitely food for thought! The Shire is a small, closed community that doesn't exactly know how to handle criminal/malicious behaviour because she's rarely been faced with it before. The majority of her citizens follow The Rules. Other than travellers on the East Road, there really is nothing else that penetrates hobbit society for many hundreds of years. Every society has their own way of dealing with certain issues. With the Shire now out of her shell after the War, and World Heroes calling it home, her innocence in this matter (and others) will undoubtedly be lost. There will be influences introduced from other societies, including how best to deal with wrong-doers. With that said, and coupled with Poppy speaking specifically to Clodio, do I detect a bit of change in the air? This excellent story just keeps getting better and better. :-) PF Author Reply: I'm very glad you liked this--they needed a chance to "settle in" so to speak. As a healer, Poppy will speak to her patient at need, but she is softening a bit, and saying more than is absolutely necessary. And I'm glad you liked Merry's letter, which was a late addition to the chapter, and great fun to write. Over the course of a number of my stories--this one, and "Reckoning" and "Reaping" and "An Unexpected Guest"--I have been sneaking up on the idea of reforming the punishments in the Shire. The Master and Thain are beginning to be convinced that the old "out of sight out of mind" is not going to function any longer. But there will be a while before they are able to come up with an effective substitute... | |
| SurgicalSteel | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/24/2007 |
| This was really nicely done - the fear of the prisoners and Clodio, and the lovely hospitality shown to the ambassadors. Beautifully done. Author Reply: Thank you very much, dear! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/24/2007 |
| Good hobbits all put together to benefit from the general hobbity need for friends and family. Bad hobbits isolated. Although, considering that putting them together would have Cado in with the big bad guys, that's probably the better option. I'm with Legolas on this - the hobbits need to adapt. But they will! Very useful and informative letter from Merry. Lots there for the king to chew over. Author Reply: Exactly. I really couldn't see putting Cado in with his brother and Dago. In the mood Clovis was in, he'd have taken it all out on his younger brother. Hobbits are slow to adapt, but they are very good at it when they do. And I hope Merry gave him a lot to think on. He had a lot more to say in that letter than I'd originally intended. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/24/2007 |
| The Rohirrim did truly everything they could to make the hobbits comfortable. Beds and tables with shortened legs, a room downstairs, foot at the table the moment they arrived ... Silently he called down every curse he could think of on Lotho Sackville-Baggins. Well, I think that was the most sensible thing Dago did in a very long time *grin* Interesting exchange between Gimli and Legolas. But Legolas is right - not only about throwing criminals out of the Shire, but about not talking about them any longer, at least not by name. It is a bit ridiculous, if I think about it - nobody vanishes only because you don't speak his name. It is about time they think of some other ways of punishment; here I trust the four travellers, the Thain and Master to find a solution. Was amused about the beginning of Merry's letter to the King, about the gifts. That was so *very* Merry! And to call the reparations 'a little joke' *lol* And of course he had to explain all relationships *shakes head* It's plain, also, that he still has not forgiven the Banks brothers. But at least he did admit the younger one is not as bad - coming from Merry, that's admirable, considering his own feelings about them. I will hope that Berilac keeps himself out of trouble while there; he can be quite as fiendish as Pippin sometimes, when it comes to jests. (While *I* of course would never indulge in such things! Well, perhaps not “never“.) *ROFL* Coming from someone who helped in the prank to make Bergil a honorary hobbit, that's too funny! Author Reply: They do want them to be comfortable in their stay. I had a time imagining their quarters, until I got the idea of a solar--it would have been just the sort of thing a princess from Gondor would have had, if her Rohirric king indulged her. It would have been *more* sensible if he'd thought of it *before* he took up with Lotho, but then we'd have had no story, LOL! Legolas, if anyone, can see that "out of sight, out of mind" simply doesn't solve the underlying problems. It's a system that can't continue much longer. I had so much fun with Merry's letter; it was a late addition to the chapter, and he had far more to say than I'd first anticipated! | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/23/2007 |
| Merry? Not be tedious? lol ;) I greatly enjoyed his letter to the King and how quickly he dispensed with the formalities to ream him out about sending all that coin! I also enjoyed the little tour of the hobbits' lodgings. It seems that the Rohorrim went to great lenghts to ensure their guests would be comfortable during their stay. Having food prepared and ready just goes to show how much they already know about hobbits! Author Reply: *chuckle* Yes, I could just imagine him starting out all formal, and addressing the king, and the quickly getting that out of the way and becoming more familiar. I have great hopes for Merry's correspondence with Eomer. I think, having had hobbits among them during the return from the Quest, and also having heard from them since, the Court at Meduseld would go out of its way to make sure they felt welcomed! Yep--nothing says "hobbit love" like food! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/23/2007 |
| Ah--arrived and made welcome, and three Bankses in the dungeons and the last a sickbed with proper care. Well and good. And mindful of Hobbit priorities, there are food and warm, comfortable beds prepared for them, and some privacy for Poppy and Viola. Yes! And the letter is wonderful--so VERY Merry. Love the reference to the trick played! Lovely throughout. Author Reply: Yes, three prisoners in the dungeons--in solitary, yet. And I thought the Rohirrim would try their best to make their hobbity guests comfortable! And I'm glad you liked Merry's letter. It was a late addition to this chapter; I have plans for Merry's correspondence with Eomer. | |
| elanor winterflowers | Reviewed Chapter: 42 on 5/23/2007 |
| I see Rohan can be expected to be most thoughtfully hospitable; I loved the description of the hobbits' guest room. Felt very sorry for the prisoners; the more tall strangers look on them with disapproval, the worse it must get, I expect. I read with great interest Merry's letter to Éomer, such things being very close to my heart! It was a fine letter, with lots of detail and a strong sense of "Shire" about it. I could hear "Merry's droll voice" too! Looking forward to the next chapter. :) Author Reply: I think that hospitality would be very important to the Rohirrim, and they now know some hobbit preferences, so they would be able to deal with those. You are quite right. And of course, they are dreading their day of judgement. I'm so glad you found Merry's letter "Shirish"--I could imagine him opening with a suitably formal greeting, and then quickly descending into friendly familiarity! | |