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A New Reckoning by Dreamflower	5 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/27/2006
Yes, dearest of friends. Author Reply: The very dearest.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/29/2006
Well, Saradoc certainly put those hobbits in their place! Your Saradoc is fantastic - I've liked him from the first time I read one of your stories with him in it. He certainly is the Master of the Hall, knowing that he must keep an ear on what his constituents are saying so that he will know how best to keep things running smoothly and properly. Paladin does much the same for the rest of the Shire and so the hobbits are all in good hands. It must be quite difficult for Paladin to really understand and accept that his still-tweenaged son is in fact all grown up and very well respected throughout Middle Earth. I've enjoyed reading about the ride Paladin and Berilac had together on this journey; I think it helps Paladin to see how much Pippin has changed by looking at him through someone else's eyes, and Berilac is the perfect hobbit for that, having heard so much from Merry about what really happened on the Quest. Paladin may not be as open and at ease with his son as Saradoc is, but Paladin loves his son greatly. Favourite line from this chapter: "Pippin was amused. He knew what his uncle was thinking. “It’s all right, Uncle Saradoc. The children of Men grow up more quickly, and Bergil has had a lot of responsibility before.” Now his face grew sober. “Being in a City at War does make one grow up quickly.”" It gives me chills to think how quickly both Bergil and Pippin had to grow up. In many ways, Pippin had to grow up more during the Siege than Bergil, since Bergil had grown up in the shadow of Mordor hearing about Orcs and other evil creatures and seeing how they have killed some of his father's friends and perhaps family throughout the years. For Pippin, this is all something new to him, something he has only experienced since stepping furry foot outside of Bag End to start on the long journey to protect Frodo and Middle Earth. He and the others are all still somewhat in shock at what they had seen and gone through. Hence the nightmares, which will take years and years to help them come to terms with what they went through. Of all four hobbits, Pippin saw more than any of the others how this war was effecting not only the soldiers, but the children as well. And for hobbits, this would be particularly painful, to see children effected so drastically by the war. This is something that Saradoc is now starting to understand from his encounter with Bergil. Excellent chapter! Author Reply: Saradoc does know just when to drop the right word. You are right--Saradoc is much more at ease and laid back than Paladin in a number of ways--even though both of them are good leaders in their different ways. Saradoc's predecessor was his father Rory, who saw that he was well-prepared for the job, while Paladin got no guidance whatsoever from Ferumbras; his relationship with Merry is also easier, for Merry has a far less mercurial temperament than Pippin; and of course, Paladin is a Took, with Tookish pride and temper. Yet Paladin has managed to overcome that, to be a good Thain in his own right, and he will gradually learn to be more at ease with his newly-recovered son. And yes, that is part of the reason I had him journey with Berilac--it's kind of an eye-opener for him, to see this steady young hobbit who is a good ten years older than Pippin essentially hero-worshipping his son. You are right in the contrast between Pippin and Bergil. In some ways, in spite of all he has experienced and done, he is rather more an innocent than Bergil. Battle was something horrific to him, something appalling. To Bergil, it was more or less a way of life. I think the plight of children affected by war would definitely have been extremely disturbing to the hobbits.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/28/2005
LOL...loved that last bit of Saradoc putting those those two in their places! What a wonderful visit from friends! Sort of validating the Four Travellers and their heroic deeds in far off places. I think I owe you a pm (about why I'm so drawn to your Hobbits), but right now I'm on a roll with (lol) Courship...you will get it soon. I know I keep saying this, but I truly am enjoying this lovely tale. Pippinfan Author Reply: Well, Saradoc was certainly keeping a weather eye on things, LOL! Validation? Yes, I think that is the word for what "A New Reckoning" is about--the validation that the Travellers deserved, and that JRRT never showed us. I'm so glad you are enjoying this.

Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/8/2004
You left me smiling right along with Saradoc at the end. Paladin and Saradoc are very much the Thain and Master, quietly going about their business getting to know people and what they are thinking, in order to best guide things in the subtle way of hobbits. No overt ruling or law-passing or proclamations, it seems. The gossip sounded hobbity indeed. And the picture it painted of Merry, protecting Frodo! No more time today, look forward to more later. Author Reply: I think of hobbits as governing themselves much like a family--a father (e.g. the head of the clan) has a lot of discretion in how he can run things; he can be heavy-handed or light. Between the patriarchal and matriarchal guidance of the head and his wife, things tend to run smoothly most of the time. Sometimes things crop up that need to involve all the family heads together, but rather than a formal vote, I see them seeking a consensus, putting their opinions forward and coming to a general agreement. Yes, the hobbits do indeed love to gossip, don't they? The incident with Merry took place in Ch. 7 of WTKCB (Brandy Hall) and he certainly did protect Frodo from a malicious tongue.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/28/2004
I am enjoying your SAaradoc so very much. He is so proud of Merry and Pippin too and he shows it at all of the right moments. I also loved Pippin with Bergil. Can't wait to see what happnes when Paladin arrives. He is the hardest one to figure on this. I hope he and Pippin get to talk things through a bit more. Also, does this go as far as Sam's wedding? Wondering about Rose and the gift! Author Reply: I'm glad you like Saradoc. I think of all the family who waited at home, he is the one to grasp most closely how important the Quest was; like Merry, his father is a thinker, observant, and able to draw the right conclusions to things most of the time. He also has a good handle on the politics of the Shire. Pippin's going to have a good time with Bergil. He seldom has the chance to be the older one in a friendship. Paladin? The Thain has a couple of surprises coming, doesn't he? And yes, I do hope to go to Sam's wedding.

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