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Thain by Lindelea	7 Review(s)
Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/24/2004
This is a wonder for a story! I love that it´s Shire history parallel with the life of Paladin and Pippin. I don´t think there has been that many stories elaborating on how Paladin became thain and what his life was like. The similarities in the experiences of both Bucca and Paladin is very interesting too. Lovely work as always Lin. :) Author Reply: Anso! I never saw this review until now! Forgive this very belated reply. hugs

Beruthiel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/27/2004
I can already see one unfortunate change coming for Paladin. Here he isn't forcing Nell to marry the windbag (forget his name), but he's going to arrange a marriage for her (without asking her, I believe) ten years down the line. Which reminds me, what about Pervinca? Does he ever try to marry her off during all his years as Thain? Went off on a bit of a tangent there. Sorry. Poor Nell. Poor Ferdi (really, must you keep tormenting the guy?). I agree with Pippin on the bedtime issue. I could never fall asleep when people thought I should. Still can't, for that matter. Author Reply: Pervinca, as I've thought of her, is so moody and difficult that it takes an extraordinary hobbit to be able to put up with, er, to get along with, er, to love her into submission. Ummm. "Taming of the Shrew", anyone? Sorry about the Ferdi torment, I just can't seem to help myself. (I suppose I could set all my stories before "Pearl of Great Price" or after "Gentle Rain" but that might be so boring...)

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/26/2004
Loved Nell's chat with Pippin. That restless can't sleep at night feeling that Pippin has is so familiar to me. I am a night owl and can't understand why folks can't stay up until they're sleepy. The Brandybucks have the right idea. Looking forward to more. Author Reply: Ah, yes, I remember lying awake in bed at night, wondering why. Thanks!

Connie B.	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/26/2004
This was a really nice chapter. I especially liked the scene between Nell and Pippin. I am finding Paladin more and more irritating. He's actually rather pitiable, though; because he's letting the pressures of the future ruin the present with his children. Thanks for the chapter. I needed something to take my mind off my own day. I'm just sad I have now lost my personal copies of every reply to every review I ever posted to S of A. So here's to starting over. Thanks. Connie B. Author Reply: Raising a glass with you. BTDT. I'm really sorry to hear of your loss. Y'know, Paladin is not as bad as he might be. In the social era I'm drawing from, arranged marriages were taken for granted. Not all that many chafed against it. For the edification of growing girls, little moral tales were published about unfortunate girls who married for love and ended up supporting a husband who couldn't hold a job, or else they ended up abandoned, or widowed. I think a recurring theme was "taking in washing" to make ends meet for the poor woman and her children. When you think of it, an unmarried sister who becomes a housekeeper for a married sibling would be much less draining on the family finances (surrounding family, I mean, as in her parents and siblings) than one who marries a ne'er-do-well and has a dozen children and keeps coming to parents and siblings for "a little help". At least Paladin isn't forcing a marriage on Pimpernel. If she chooses not to marry, he won't force a different choice on her. He just doesn't think it would be best for her to marry Ferdi, and from a practical standpoint (you have to be practical to be a good farmer, I suspect) he's correct, at least at this point in time. Sorry if I'm being more practical than romantic at the moment. Hopefully I make up for it in the tenderer moments of the stories I've spun.

Lyta Padfoot	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/26/2004
Poor Pimpernel. I imagine Ferdi is even more embarassed to speak in front of her than all the other Tooks combined. Pippin was very sweet in this chapter, nice to see him protective of Nell and Ferdi. Author Reply: Very incisive comment, one I hadn't even thought about (yet) but would have to be true.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/26/2004
Not a paragon of sensitivity is he, old Paladin. Poor Pimpernel is clearly already fond of Ferdi - and he's trying to marry her off to her advantage. I imagine that if Ferdi had extensive lands and loads of money, his elective mutism would become an interestingly eccentric life choice rather than something that prove he was half-witted. Pippin is quite sweet here - lazy, self-centred, selfish, but sweet. (Typical teenager.) Author Reply: LOL, I'd agree over the "typical teen" comment but for the fact that my own typical teen would probably take offense... For a small defense of Paladin, see the review reply to Connie (posted at SoA for the same chapter you just reviewed). ...but you're right about "faults" being changed to charming eccentricities depending on one's economic status. Hadn't even thought of that.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/26/2004
Pip's a typical thoughtless teen here - so inwardly focused in his concerns. He's jealous of his Smials cousins' idleness now - I think of Farry's story, and how slow Pip was to realize the mischief his Smial-cousins' idleness led to. Paladin's right in wanting his son to learn self-discipline, but there's a fine line between discipline and control, and Paladin and Pip will teeter on that line for a long time. It's typical that the conversation with Nell starts with childish pique over bedtime, and an attempt to raid the pantry. There's not a shred of guilt over getting his sister to do his chores, or even over getting caught at it. But childish thinking is soon to be replaced with a new awareness of consequences, I think. And despite his immaturity, Pip's compassion for Nell is firmly in place. How true it is that hobbits love each other deeply, especially family. I'm glad that Pip will eventually get to play his part in bringing Nell the long-delayed fulfilment of her hopes. It's quite interesting, how this story is weaving two very different threads together. I'm eager to see what kind of finished tapestry you've got planned. Author Reply: Well, Pip had quite a bit of fun with his idle cousin, not realising the harm it did until his son's troubles showed them to him in a new light. It is fun to contemplate that Pippin and Odo, working together, finally get Nell and Ferdi's relationship where it belongs. I'm eager to see the finished tapestry too! I confess the outline for this story is the sketchiest I've ever worked from, and chapter titles are giving me fits! (It just would not do to title the chapters identically, too confusing, but... still thinking about how to do this.) Thanks for reviewing.

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