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A Fitting Occupation  by Radbooks 10 Review(s)
SoledadReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/29/2008
Absolutely lovely! And a story set in Dale, too - you've just made my day. :)

NeiliaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/15/2007
Enjpyed this tale very much. I love it when parents are depicted as this father is. Children can't be made what they are not and denied the future that would bring them joy. I firmly believe this with all my heart.

Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing, Neilia. If only real life could mirror fiction, huh? So few children are truly encouraged in the gifts that they have and are pushed - most often unintentionally - into careers and things that might bring them money, but won't bring them joy.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/15/2007
Wonderful dispositon for the child! Now--to convince Dain! Heh! But I think Bard can do it if anyone can! I'm tempted to add details to this to my own stories, if you don't mind (not that I've always asked, of course, Heh!).

Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing, Larner! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm sure that Bard will be able to convince Dain... I think he's pretty persuasive. :) Sure you can use it, though you may want to mention that Baird isn't canonical - if that sort of stuff is important to you. :) Of course, you realize that I'll get to 'borrow' some of your hobbits when I write my next story in my 'Brothers at Heart' series and they go by the Shire and Bree. *grin* Oh, wait, I don't think any of yours are even born yet. Rats!!! :)

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/14/2007
Absolutely delightful series! I love the idea - and Bard's wisdom with his son. Excellent!

Author Reply: Thanks for your kind words, Agape4Gondor! I'm glad you enjoyed this drabble series, it was fun to write.

Mum's the WordReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/14/2007
What a wonderful story! And what a creative solution. Well done, and a lovely way to cheer your friend.
Blessings and brownies,
Mum

Author Reply: Thanks, Mum's the Word! I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I'll email you my address for the brownies!! *grin*

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/14/2007
Nice story, Radbooks. Bard is wise to suit the work to the child rather than trying to force the child into the work.

Author Reply: Thanks, Daw, glad you enjoyed it! Baird never would have been happy if Bard had forced him to be something so totally against his nature.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/14/2007
*facepalm* I meant "before he slew *Smaug*!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/14/2007
A very nice drabble set! I could just see the long-suffering father and the restless youngster. What a creative solution Bard had--most kings would think it a comedown for a prince to become an apprentice. But it makes sense that Bard, who was just an ordinary citizen of Laketown before he slew Bard would not have such an attitude, but would see the value in his son learning a craft.

Author Reply: Thank you for your kind words, Dreamflower. Bard always seemed to have quite a bit of common sense when I read the Hobbit and so I tried to show that here.

I did know you meant Smaug! I do that sort of thing all the time. *grin*

FiondilReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/14/2007
And I wonder if Bard thought convincing his son or Dain would be the harder task. *snicker* Lovely piece Radbooks. I really feel for Baird and I'm glad Bard is sensitive enough both as a father and as a king to realize that there are other ways of being an ambassador besides the traditional way as a diplomat and that his youngest son need not be forced into a role that is not his to play. I hope this little story did cheer your friend. It certainly cheered me (and the way my week is going so far, I need all the cheering I can get *grin*). Thanks for sharing.

Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing, Fiondil, glad you enjoyed it. Oh, I have a feeling that Dain might be hard to convince. I can't imagine the two of them were good friends after they almost fought each other. I'm thinking they co-existed and had mutual trade more out of need than anything else. But Bard can be persuasive and Dain was probably realistic enough to see the benefits of having the king's son there in the Mountain.

My friend did enjoy the story very much. I'm glad that it cheered you up! I'm sorry you're having a tough week. :(

eilujReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/13/2007
Congrats on achieving a unique plot (*shock* in Tolkien fanfic?) and vivid OCs.

Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing the story, I'm glad that you enjoyed it and found it unique!

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