Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

A New Reckoning by Dreamflower	3 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 9/27/2006
All wishing to put others at ease, to calm worries and the unease they've now recognized; and the difficulties of dealing with such a lavish income! Author Reply: Yes, there's a lot to think over. And Paladin knows that the Tooks really could use the money right now. But he also knows his son deserved the reward.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 1/31/2006
"His face was thinner than he had seen it last; there was no childishness left in it, though he still had three more years until his majority." Now this is very sad. This is the very reason that Tolkien included Pippin on the Quest - as the symbol of how war and such horrors rob us of our youth and innocence and make us older before our time. While generally, we are pleased that Pippin is no longer the foolish irresponsible Took he was before leaving the Shire, but rather a strong and competent soldier and hero, it does bring it home to us that there was a tremendous price. I do not enby Pippin his lost innocence. It is a treasured characteristic that nobody, especially a Took, should be without. "“I’m sorry.” “Don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong.” He gave a bitter laugh. “That’s a matter of opinion. I wish there had never been a Ring, much less that we had anything to do with it.” He stopped. He had not meant to say as much to her, and was surprised at his own outburst. “Oh, Frodo!” She reached out and gave him a hug. “Do not blame yourself for any of it.” For a moment, he allowed himself to relax into her embrace, as he seldom had when he was a child." If only Frodo would open up more to Esmeralda! That's just what he needs now, is a mother's hug, and Esmeralda is as close as he has to his own mother. I wonder how much different things would have been for Frodo after their return if his parents were still alive. Would it have made a difference in his life? It's odd to think that a minor's assets would belong to his or her parents when in this day, a minor's assets would still belong to him or her and it would be the parents' obligation and legal duty to preserve and protect the assets for the minor. "Just then, her father and the rest returned from their visit to the strongroom, and Esmerelda announced that dinner was ready." AHA! I haven't caught one of these in a long time! lol! "Bergil had eaten very carefully all day, taking Esmeralda’s advice, and just having a cup of tea and a nibble. Now he felt ready to have a meal, but he was going to be cautious as to the size of the portions on his plate. Legolas was sitting across from him, and he noticed how he was eating. He would let the Elf be his example." Bergil is a quick learner and will not make the mistake of trying to keep up with the hobbits when they eat again. It's very smart of him to let the Elf be his example. Author Reply: Yes, Pippin has left his childhood behind completely. Yet, I do think that of the four, his innate cheerfulness and his resilient youth enabled him to come out of it all with his optimism intact, even if tempered a bit by reality. Still, for his father, who hadn't seen him at all for a year, and then only had a brief time with him before the move to Crickhollow, it had to be difficult. Also, the recent bout with his own anniversary troubles, and Merry's recent brush with a return of the Shadow had made a difference even there. For Pippin now realizes for certain that some of the troubles he saw came home with him. I really felt I needed to include that moment with Frodo and Esme. As a child he never truly understood the motherly role she could play for him; now he's able to appreciate it more. And I do think that if his parents had lived, things would have been far, far different. As I tried to think out some of the legalities of things in the Shire, it seemed to me that in such a clannish family oriented society, the parents would have a far more authoritarian role than in our own. I think a good deal of property that in our society would be considered "private" property was in the Shire considered "family" property. For example, in multi-generational dwellings like Brandy Hall or the Great Smials, I think that it was the family that provided for all beneath the roof. Another reflection of that attitude is how the mathom rooms are pretty much open to things being stored or taken from them at will. But to get back to the minor property issue, arrangements can be made to make exceptions--but the key word is exceptions. When Bilbo adopts Frodo, for example, he has the lawyer put in a clause to the effect that he is waiving any parental claims on the property left to his ward by Drogo and Primula--something rarely done. Well--I'll have to get in there and fix that. I spotted a "gotten" I hadn't got, LOL! the other day, too! Looks like some more tweaking is in order. Bergil's a smart lad. He certainly doesn't want anymore bellyaches!

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/4/2005
Lovely chapter! It is very plausible to me, but I had never before considered that the a child's holdings belonged to the entire family. Wouldn't it be nice though if Paladin encouraged his son to participate in how the Tooks use the stipend--seeing Pippin is handing it over to them? Hehehe...here I am putting in my two cents to a story that's already written! I am so glad to see Bergil eating like a regular boy again! It can prove quite unhealthy trying to keep up with a hobbit! I am looking forward to him frolicking among the other children, being a boy again. :-) Pippinfan Author Reply: That's my own little take on Shire legalities: that unless special arrangements are made, a minor's possessions belong to his or her parents. It just seemed to me that a clannish society like the Shire would do things that way. Bergil's learned that there's no keeping up with a hobbit's appetite, LOL! He's going to have a good deal of fun in the Shire.

Return to Chapter List