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The Blessing by Pearl Took	10 Review(s)
Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/2/2007
Even Aragorn seems to have a tendency to look on hobbits as children sometimes. Simply because they are small and don't have dwarven-quality facial hair it doesn't mean that they are simple innocents. Frodo's in his 50s, for goodness sake!! Not to mention having - literally - been to Mordor and back. While Sam and Merry are about Faramir's age. (And, while hobbits take longer to come to adulthood, Numenorean men of Faramir's lineage can expect to live at least as long as hobbits.) I'm glad that Pippin's nearest and dearest are learning what's up ... and I suppose there was some value in keeping it quiet until observations were complete. But I think Pippin could do with some good news! Author Reply: I know that even with small people who aren't "little people" it is sometimes easy to forget how old they are. My daughter is short and young looking and has trouble with that. Pip will get some good news soon! Thanks so much for reading and responding, dear Bodkin!

Pipspebb.e	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/28/2007
An absolutely riveting tale. I do hope this is not the final chapter. I thought I'd seen all types of hobbit stories, but this is the first I've ever seen dealing with the possibility of epilepsy following Pippin's injuries. I commend you for the courage to write on such a difficult topic. Well done, and please, do continue with this story. Like all of your stories, it is a gem dandy. Author Reply: Thank you, Pipspebble :-) It was/is Golden's plot idea, and I agree, an interesting different look at what could easily have happened to Pippin. This isn't the final chapter, in fact, neither of us are quite sure where this will end. I won't let it drag on forever though :-) Thank you for your kind words!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/26/2007
Gran mal and petit mal are also names for them, the gran mal being major seizures with convulsive characteristics, usually causing fixation to one side of the body or the other, on the opposite side from the hemisphere of the brain that is involved. At least he's not having psychomotor seizures as well, for those can be totally confusing! Author Reply: Hi Larner :-) I chose to go with even older names though grand mal and petit mal are the names I'm most familiar with too. The names in the A/N are the ones all the epilepsy organizations now use, that's why I used them there. I should have used all of them to have it be clearer. Thanks for bring it up. :-) I actually prefer grand and petit mal, to me they are more easily understood, especially grand mal. "Tonic-clonic" means absolutely nothing to most people unless they have looked things up somewhere. Many people know that "grand" means big or complex and that "mal" means something that isn't working right or is bad. Thank you for staying with us :-)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/26/2007
Oh, the poor hobbits! And you've made me curious about cousin Bandobard. I hope the situation is not as bad as it seems; after all, they are in Minas Tirith, where there is still a lot of the old Numenorean knowledge, and it's said they can fix just about anything except old age. Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower :-) Yes, they will be able to help, and don't forget that Elrond will be showing up in Minas Tirith soon as well ;-) Thank you so much for reading and leaving your kind words.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/26/2007
WELL DONE, Pearl!! You, too, Golden! What a frightening experience for everyone. Seems like Aragorn needs lessons in time-management; how could anyone not see that angelic, cherub of a face in Pippin? :-) Merry shouldn't have blurted out Cousin Bandobard, but I can see his reason behind it. Pippin is a big lad and needs to know exactly what is going on with his body--there's no further need to hide it. The details are excellent, as always, Pearl. :-) I am really looking forward to more! PF Author Reply: Thank you so much, m'dear :-) Golden is helping a lot with keeping me on my toes. I think I'll have to do some looking at Merry, he's being a bit quick with things, people might start to think he's a Took ;-)

cathleen	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/26/2007
Oh my. This story continues to delight and amaze me and I find myself looking for the proper words to express how impressed I am with your work. This is truly the most powerful, emotional tale I have ever read in this fandom. Magnificently and skillfully crafted, full of accurate description and time-period appopriate phrases. I look forward eagerly to each new chapter! Thank you for sharing this and I can't wait to see how you'll conclude this tale. Cathleen Author Reply: Wow, thank you so very much, Cathleen. I will give credit where it is due and say that Golden has contributed a great deal. Like a professional editor, she has been requesting a fair amount of re-writing - something I do little of when I write on my own. I'm certain that has contributed a great deal to the feeling of it being "Magnificently and skillfully crafted," that you site. (I hope you read this, Golden :-) ) We both wished to have the details as accurate as possible and have done a lot of research into the various injuries/conditions Pippin has. Thank you for noticing and commenting on it :-) I also try hard to check the age/time period on the words and phrases I use. You are very welcome, it is our pleasure to share this tale and our reward that you and others are enjoying it!

elanor winterflowers	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/25/2007
I've been following along here for awhile and just wanted to say that this is just a fascinating story, and so very well written, too. I am alternately hopeful and heartbroken. I hope Strider and Parsow can come up with a potion that helps Pippin! Author Reply: Welcome elanor winterflowers :-) Thank you for your kind words and for reading our story. I think they will do well with Pip's treatment. Tolkien has healing available in Middle-earth that we did not have again in our world until recently - and some we still don't have :-) Thank you so much!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/25/2007
Oh my, what a sad chapter! Not cured - that must have been like a blow to the hobbits! At least Aragorn and Parsow know how to make the effects more bearable. Merry's reaction was like the first one a little too impulsive ;-) He had the best intentions, of course, but in fact he frightened (or should I say terrified?) his cousin. What happened to Bandobard Took? I've never heard of him before. Last but not least, Frodo was great in this chapter! He lives up to his name "Wise by experience"! I think it was indeed wise to leave Pippin alone, but not without assuring him that they waited just behind the door. Author Reply: Hi Andrea, It was a blow to them and for Pip to find out what he has. Merry has been a bit impulsive in this story. I suppose a bit un-Merry like. I may have to explore why. You will find out more about Bandobard in the next chapter. He's an OC. I'm glad you like Frodo :-) Thank you! :-)

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/25/2007
How extremly sad, but very well-written. I had tearsin my eyes. Dearest Pippin. I think Merry was right in telling him, but what a fearful thing to have to face. Now, somehow he has to know that he won't be facing it alone - and that it probably, with Aragorn's help, will not be as bad as the example he was given. sad, heavy, disconsolate sigh Author Reply: Hi Agape, It is a sad thing indeed. It was one of the main injuries he would sustain from the very beginning of Golden's ideas for this story. He will not be alone :-) Thank you so much:-)

Garnet Took	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/25/2007
Glad to see an update to this. I've been waiting anxiously for it. Well, at least the truth is out now. I think Merry may have just caught Aragorn's bad judgment. He probably should have chosen his words a bit more carefully there. Poor Pippin. First he can't figure out what's happening to him and then they tell him he has the falling sickness, which has so many bad conotations associated with it. I hope his inate sense of joy in life can come to the fore and help him cope with this. He's going to have to be flexible and cooperative with Strider and Parsow to get the herbs and dosages right to help him the most affectively. Oh please don't leave us hanging too long. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Garnet! Yes, Merry definitely didn't do the best here. I'm interested too to see how Pip does with his life from here. I'll try not to leave you all hanging too long. I keep having other stuff that my family seems to think has to be done. Plus, Hubby and I were on vacation for almost a week.

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