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A New Reckoning by Dreamflower	6 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 9/27/2006
Yes, a terrible burden of memory that Pippin doesn't wish to relive. But now it's out, and Frodo's part in it is out, although none undertand that as well as they can imagine Pippin and the troll! And I'd not even connected the troll of the Morannon with that of Moria. Author Reply: No, it's a dreadful memory, and not one he expected to have dredged up in such vivid detail. Each of Frodo's hobbit companions avenged him to a certain extent: Merry's the most obvious, in slaying the Witch-king; Sam took out Shelob; and Pippin, by proxy, got a troll. At least that's a connection I make. Whether or not it was intentional on JRRT's part, I do not know. However, knowing his penchant for parallelism, it would seem possible.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 1/29/2006
"“I’ll have you know Frodo taught me to climb when I was only a faunt.” He sounded indignant. “Perhaps so,” said Legolas “but that was long ago for your kind. I doubt me that he climbs so much anymore.” Pippin leaned back against a convenient limb. Though he was not nearly so graceful in the trees as an Elf, he was very much at home. He sighed. “No, I fear you’re right. I don’t think Frodo has climbed a tree in a long time.”" OMG! You've just hit me with another plot bunny! Actually, it's incorporating one of the things I included in my personal Pippin over at the PippinHealers group and I'll have to re-read a part of canon as well as your fic with Tom Bombadil, but if it all checks out and I can make it work together ... bounces up and down along with the plot bunny in excitement! Ahem. Sorry about that. Now then, you know I always enjoy it when you include a mention of eithert Pippin or Frodo climbing trees. To have Pippin in a tree with Legolas engaged in conversation made me most happy. And I was glad of Pippin talking so seriously with Legolas and confiding in him. I do think that those two have a special relationship, but then it seems that the more I read of your stories, all of our lads have a special relationship with everyone else! lol! "Pippin froze as the blood drained from his face." Sadly, I can just picture that. My heart went out to Pippin as he listened to Bergil recount his slaying of the troll. This was the type of experience that none of the four hobbits would have been ready to share with the hobbitry at large yet. A few selected family and friends, yes, but not everyone. Pippin had a difficult enough time telling his own immediate family, and even then he left some of the details out. To have it described in front of him to so many young hobbits whom he knew would go straight away to their own parents with the tale ... whoa ... poor Pippin! You really outdid yourself with this chapter, my dear. There is so much feeling and emotion conveyed in here...wow. Author Reply: oh boy!feeds bunnies carrotsgrin I do think that those two have a special relationship, but then it seems that the more I read of your stories, all of our lads have a special relationship with everyone else! lol! You know, you're right. Of course, Our Four Lads are the most important ones as I examine how they relate to one another, yet I also have to see how each relates to the others in their lives. It's the group dynamic that fascinates me, and not any individual character. You've really hit on something there. Each hobbit relates in his own special way to each other member of the Company! Poor Pippin, you are absolutely right in that he's not quite ready yet to share this with all and sundry. And here we see one way in which Bergil, who was brought up in the shadow of War is in a good many ways more hardened than Pippin--to him, battles and fighting are simply a part of everyday life, and the shock the hobbite would have on hearing this account is really a foreign concept to him. Why shouldn't he tell how Pippin saved his father and their comrades in battle? It seems perfectly natural to him. Yet I am sure none of the hobbits have ever heard so graphic an account--even Bilbo's story of the Battle of the Five Armies did not include any gory details. And some of the parents were right there in the room and heard it first hand themselves, so Pippin knows that it's going to be all over Brandy Hall. And I am glad you think the emotions rang true! Thank you!

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 7/4/2005
Yikes! I'm behind on my reviewing! oh...my... Poor Bergil not having a clue as to the effect of his tale! Bless his heart, though--and bless Pippin for not reacting as he might have. He truly has grown up. I almost laughed at the picture you painted of the hobbit children gaping at the young storyteller. That was too precious.\ Pippinfan Author Reply: No, Bergil just wanted to brag on his Sir Pippin is all. Of course Pippin couldn't be mad at him for that, once he was able to get his breath back. And the children, of course, hearing the tale about one of their own, were amazed.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/6/2004
That flashback sequence was amazing. Pippin in a blind rage is never something I pictured, but it does happen often enough in battle, the adreneline just sort of takes over and you lose yourself to the rage. Still not something you expect from a hobbit - it shows how much they really were changed by their experiences. I like Esmeralda's resolve to get Bergil laughing before he leaves. He's too young to have seen all the things he has, and losing his mother on top of that as well makes it all that much more difficult. Add on top of that the fact that his father could die in battle at any moment and you get a very solemn child indeed. That he reminds her of Frodo is very touching as well and probably strengthened her wish to see Bergil have some fun for a change. Author Reply: I could just imagine: here's Pippin, just barely holding on to his hope that Frodo and Sam will manage their task, Merry back in Minas Tirith far away, and hardly out of the woods, and here comes Mouth of Sauron with what Pippin must take as proof that Frodo and Sam are taken, and probably either dead or being tortured. I think at that point, when the battle began, he was just taking out every last bit of anger and frustration and guilt that he had felt since he left the Shire. Yes, the idea of a berserker hobbit is a little strange, but I think it would be the only way he could survive a battle like that. Esmerelda obviously has a real soft spot for Bergil. He's a serious child, having been brought up in serious conditions. Losing a parent or parents at a tender age, like Frodo--but as Pip pointed out, no Merry in his life. But I do believe that with Pippin on the job, he'll learn to have a bit of fun.

Pervinca	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/3/2004
I wondered what the warning page was for on this chapter, but I figured that it would probably have something to do with a memory. I'm really impressed with how you've managed to go from the humour in the previous chapter, to this very moving and powerful piece. The fact that Bergil wouldn't know any better was a very good idea to use. I'm loving this story more and more :) Author Reply: When I started writing the chapter, I had no idea it would get so graphic. I dithered over toning it down, but then decided to go with upping the rating for one chapter. The idea of Pippin in a sort of berserker rage came to me, as I thought about how he would be feeling when he believed all was lost. And I wondered how he had managed in the battle until he encountered the troll. Somehow, I could just see him lashing out in anger at all the Orc legs surrounding him. To Bergil, this is a pretty tame story. He had seen the real thing, and its aftermath; but to sheltered hobbit children, this could be the stuff of nightmares. I think if any of the adults had realized in time, they would have stopped him, but once he got started everyone was mesmerized by the story. This story seems to go places I had not expected it to when I started.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/3/2004
This was so very well done. You took what happened with the troll and Pippin and put the story into the present for Pippin so well. I enjoyed the fact that Bergil was so proud of Pippin, but even more that he knew that Frodo was the real hero. Just wonderful as always. Author Reply: Thank you. For the people of Gondor, who lived under the threat of Mordor for so long, there would not be any doubt as to who the real hero was. Bergil has a case of hero-worship for his friend Pippin, but Frodo the Ringbearer is on an even higher pedestal, whether he wishes to be or not.

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