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A New Reckoning by Dreamflower	7 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 61 on 10/3/2006
Each gift is so very appropriate both to recipient and givers. And I do think that the aparness Frodo ever experienced after Bilbo's leaving was due to the effects of the Ring. It wouldn't want a happy marriage between its bearer and a love, I think. But now there can be an arrangement with Sam and Rosie there, fellows now and not servants. I hate the effects of the Ring, you know.... Author Reply: I think a good deal of it was due to the Ring, although "my" Ring was more quiescent at the time than yours, It still had Its effects. But there will always be a certain amount of doubt on the subject with those who knew Frodo and Bilbo. Bilbo was apparently a solitary hobbit by nature before he ever went on his Adventure, and when he returned, it was several more years before the Ring took enough hold of him to be at all noticeable. But I don't believe that Frodo was as solitary by nature as Bilbo had been; he's always going to wonder, and never really know for sure. Just another bit of doubt to cloud his already troubled mind. And he's looking forward to having Sam and Rose as family. There are probably a lot of hobbits who are going to think Sam and Rose are there as servants--but those who know them well will know better. So do I. It was a nasty, vicious thing, thoroughly imbued with the malice of Its maker.

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 61 on 8/9/2005
Good old Sam! Still serving his dearest hobbit--besides Rosie, of course. You know, I have always suspected that Frodo knew LONG before Sep 29th, S.R. 1421 that he was going to leave the Shire. Going to the Undying Lands is not something one does on a last minute notice. I like your lawyers' name: Grubb. Today, it would be: Grubb, Grubb, and Grubb. Sorry, bad joke. I do like your Marigold--she's so lively and cheerful! With the exception of Hyacinth and the traitors, I've liked all of your O.C.s. I'm also liking how you have Sam and Rosie sitting for their gifts up to their wedding day. It goes hand in hand with the byrding ritual of receiving/giving gifts no later than noon of the actual day of the birthday--which I am going to have to squeeze in tightly for a certain teen... Pippinfan Author Reply: Oh, I'm sure he did. He did not really make up his mind until after Elanor was born, according to JRRT, but I think he had been considering it and weighing his options almost ever since his return. "Grubb" for Bilbo's lawyer is canon. In The Hobbit, the lawyer's conducting the estate sale when Bilbo returns are "Messrs. Grubb, Grubb and Burrowes". The Grubb whom Frodo uses is the grandson of one of those Grubbs. I think Marigold would have to be lively and cheerful; she's the baby of the family, and even though she was part of a working class family, I'm sure they spoiled her as much as they could. And I've noticed that "spoiled" children turn out one of two ways--they actually are spoiled, or they come out with wonderfully cheerful and optimistic natures. I think most hobbit children would have fallen into that latter category. Well, I'm simply extrapolating from what JRRT said in Letter #214. He said the gifts were not to be brought to the wedding; I think a "bridal shower" is too modern an idea, so I came up with the "sitting for the gifts" tradition. Also, I took his notion of it being poor taste to take a gift to the wedding one step further, and made it that it is also considered bad luck, as well. Now, as we know from Bilbo's party, the byrding could give gifts at the party; but could not recieve them, without, again it being considered poor taste.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 61 on 8/10/2004
Interesting thought that it could have been the ring keeping Frodo solitary all those years, but I'm not really sure how much it pans out. After all, Bilbo did adopt Frodo and he had the ring much longer than Frodo did. It could be a combination of both the ring and his preference for quiet. I'll have to think about that. What better gift to give a gardener than flowers. And Gimli was smart to make sure they understood they were supposed to use the cups. I'm sure Sam would have even put those on display if he hadn't been told otherwise. Author Reply: I don't really think it was the Ring, either, or not mostly. But Frodo must often wonder now looking back, on how many of his "oddities" were really his own nature and how many were influenced by the Ring. Legolas knows. And so did Gimli. 8-) Author Reply: Sorry for the abrupt ending, there. Hubby came in and needed the computer right away, as I was typing your reply. I was going to say, Legolas knows how Sam feels about growing things, and I can easily imagine the two of them having some interesting conversations about some of the plants they encountered during their journey. And Gimli also had Sam's measure pretty well. He knows Sam's idea of "proper". But he wanted his gift used, so he said so. Dwarven practicality.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 61 on 8/10/2004
You expect me to remember what happened in Chapter 25? That must have come up ages ago! Author Reply: Giggle Of course not. I had to look it up myself! LOL! 8-)

RogerGamgee	Reviewed Chapter: 61 on 8/10/2004
Dreamflower, another lovely chapter! I enjoyed watching Sam virtually fawn over the gift Legolas gave him...he'll surely get a lot of use out of those seeds, I'm sure. I wonder what his reaction will be when he finds out that Frodo has been made his heir. I wonder, though, doesn't the potential heir have to have some part in the drawing up of the will? I'm not too keen on the finer legal points, so I could be mistaken. All in all, though, a marvelous job thus far. Keep it up! Author Reply: In their love of growing things, Sam and Legolas are very much kindred spirits; I'm sure he will love bringing these unusual plants to the Shire. Of course he won't find out until after Frodo leaves the Grey Havens. But I know that he had to have made these arrangements well ahead of time. After all, he couldn't just take over Bag End without some kind of legal right, seven witnesses and red ink! As to knowing about it, even in the Real World a legatee does not necessarily have to know about a bequest ahead of time, so I can see that hobbits could probably also keep it secret. Thank you! I am beginning to see the finish line on this one--but you never know--it's already three times longer than I thought it would be!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 61 on 8/10/2004
I love the wedding presents. Very well chosen. The beds sound well thought out - and I'm glad Frodo remembered bedding. Is Legolas currently using Gandalf's room? Frodo is quite right in saying that the most vocal opponent of the new will would be Sam. After all - it's not really proper, is it? Good thing, avoiding politics, but the weddings do sound fun. Author Reply: Seemed to me the kind of things that Legolas and Gimli would choose. Frodo didn't forget the mistake Bilbo almost made, LOL! Yes, back in Ch. 25, I had Frodo assign Legolas Gandalf's old room. They had a little discussion about it. He knows his Sam. Not only would Sam think it improper, but it would also distress him to think that he would be gaining at the loss of his dear Mr. Frodo. If Frodo could have been Deputy Mayor during normal hobbit times, he might actually have come to enjoy it: weddings, opening festivals, banquets, etc. But unfortunately for him (and fortunately for the Shire) the times were anything but normal, and politics had to get involved. Still, at least he'll get to do one more wedding after Sam and Rosie.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 61 on 8/10/2004
Frodo is right - no more politics! It is much too tiring. It is good he has finally time to relax, although I fear he will not find much peace of mind. The wedding gifts from Legolas and Gimli are very fitting - and knowing Sam, Gimli is pretty right about the using of his gift :-) Author Reply: I'm pretty fed up with RL politics right now, so I've kind of foisted my attitude onto Frodo. But even though he would do his duty, I think his feelings would be very much that. Yes, Gimli has come to know Sam only too well. I'm sure he would have loved to have done the goblets in silver, or even mithril if he could, but he would know that Sam would never use them if he did.

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