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A New Reckoning by Dreamflower	7 Review(s)
Szepilona10	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/24/2008
"Good old Strider and his beautiful queen" That is so Sam! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~ Author Reply: grin Thank you! It's very nice to see a new reader for this story!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/27/2006
Embarrassing, but necessary, I think, although Frodo's refusal of other gifts would be seen by those watching as not honoring him rather than accepting his own will for the situation. Ah, Frodo, our beloved Hobbit! Author Reply: Poor Aragorn had a fine line to tread. He had a way around Sam, going through Rose, but for Frodo, he knew he had to respect his wishes. However, his message that he would do anything for the Ringbearer and his companion is not going to be completely lost on the other hobbits. Yes, Frodo the Beloved!

AspenJules	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/3/2006
Ok... So I read more than one chapter, but these chapters are like potato chips, you can't read just one... they just flow one into the other so smoothly. And each one is a delight. If I review every chapter I will flood your inbox (and have much less time for reading, selfish me!), so I will review every little while. I loved meeting the 'strangers' and especially loved that Bergil was there. I'm interested in learning more about how he managed to come. I'm also thrilled that Legolas and Gimli came, and that Saradoc got to meet them and see their interactions. I liked how he compared them to Merry and Pippin. It was touching to read Frodo's reflections on how they'd changed, with setting a watch being second nature to them. Pippin's encounter with Sam went about how I expected, with Pip being all mad and indignant but Sam taking the wind right out of his sails by agreeing with everything he said. Pip's anger soon showed itself for what it really was though, regret and almost envy that they weren't able to be there for Frodo and Sam was, as well as worry for Frodo. Frodo's reflections on his "lack of connections" to people was heartbreaking. I'd never thought about it before, but it makes such sense that such a loss, at such a tender age, for such a sensitive soul, could have made 'connecting' with people difficult, if not next to impossible. I'm glad that he had his Merry to help him out, even if he never completely regained the ability. It's interesting also to see the effects the Quest had on Paladin also, that now when they get news they are instantly afraid of what it might mean, instead of assuming happy or innocuous news at least, as they probably would have before their boys disappeared. Things change, and even adults can have their sense of safety and security threatened, and Paladin and Eglantine, and Saradoc and Esmeralda all were changed by their boys' disappearances. I loved the reunion with the men, and the gifts. Stubborn, hard-headed Frodo just refuses to make it easy for people to show their gratitude for what he's done, so I'm glad the men knelt to him in spite of his protests, LOL. And I love the ponies and pennies, and Pippin's medallion. And clever Aragorn and Arwen to figure out a way to give Sam a gift in spite of everything - he'd never turn down a gift to his beloved Rosie. Anyway, great story! Hmmmm, this review was so long maybe I should just review each chapter anyway.... LOL Author Reply: Actually, I enjoyed seeing my flooded inbox this afternoon! Delightful! So much has changed for our four lads, and it's not only the big things--I'm glad you got my point about setting the watch, and that you found Pip's handling of Sam credible. Yes, even those who never left the Shire had their lives changed. Sudden news is always going to give them a jolt that it would not have before. Gratitude causes Frodo to feel guilty. It's a last malicious little present from the Ring, that he cannot see his own heroism, nor understand that he was not culpable for claiming the Ring. I had fun honoring the Travellers in front of all those hobbits! They deserved it! I like long reviews...and full inboxes...I'm quite shameless, actually...

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/19/2006
Such lovely presents! Merry is certainly going to have a stable or two full of ponies before long! I'm glad Pippin got such a fine horse, too, and with such an appropriate name. And if Frodo is still insisting on not receiving gifts, then so is Sam, but of course he'll accept a present for his Rosie. Leave it to Aragorn to know the perfect gift. Author Reply: It won't be long before Merry's going to have more ponies than he ever thought possible, LOL! I thought I had better name his pony before I got it, or the poor creature would have been stuck with a name like "Molasses" or "Toast", LOL! And I chose "Sable" of course for the color of the field of Gondor's device. Frodo and Sam are not going to take any gifts that they would see as "reward"--but a wedding present for Sam's bride is something else again.

Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/7/2004
O my! You gave Pippin a medallion too! (We must be on the same wavelength) I'm with Pippin. My heart beats a little faster at seeing the third pony. Wow, an annual stipend. Now why didn't I think of that? (But of course, Pippin got his payments in my version, in a lump sum, with many "back payments" included!) Author Reply: I think it's only appropriate; he's a Knight of Gondor, after all. Every once in a while, I sneak a bit of SCA culture into my stories. I was a good girl and refrained from giving him a white belt, but I couldn't resist the chain, and to make it different (SCA knights' chains are unadorned) I added the medallion. Yes, Pippin hadn't a clue what to expect, unlike Merry, who had some warning by the letter Eomer sent his father. He knows two of those ponies are his cousin's so if there are three...8-D An annual stipend just seemed to make sense to me. If it were a real feudal culture, a knight would spend a few months at court each year, and be supported by his liege during that time. I tweaked it a bit; and Aragorn tweaked it even more. (As did Eomer for Merry.) His stipends for Pippin are far in excess of what the average is, and I think of him as being a bit sneaky in his generosity. I have to say, though, I liked your version--the treasure just kept on coming, no end in sight seemingly. Made all the previous angst worth it!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/27/2004
Loved the gifts and Sam's was so perfect for he would not want to take a gift for himself, but he would take one for Rosie. Beautiful! Author Reply: Well, you just know Aragorn and Arwen had to send a wedding gift. And of course they knew about the wedding--since all his hobbits had sent him letters at the end of When the King Comes Back 8-)

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/27/2004
What a great chapter. I like all the presents - very appropriate and generous as would be expected. The necklace for Rosie was just amazing. She'll be speechless when she gets it. I can just imagine the wildfire of gossip that will be making the rounds of the taverns and inns! It is too bad that people couldn't understand more what Frodo did for them. But it happens that way sometimes. Keep up the good work. Author Reply: I'm glad you like Rosie's necklace. I like giving presents to hobbits, have you noticed? 8-) I like to think that there were at least a few in the Shire who eventually came to have an inkling of how important Frodo was. And for those who did not, it would not have been for lack of effort by Frodo's family and friends.

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