Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

A New Reckoning  by Dreamflower 6 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/27/2006
Escellent dealings with the treasure amassed by a Wizard who ought not to have held such things. And good plan for the meeting.

Author Reply: It seemed logical to me: Saruman *had* to have amassed some material wealth, as it was *that* sort of corruption he used to insinuate himself among the Bracegirdles and with Lotho. And since, as a Saxon-type culture, the Rohirrim would have a system of justice based on were-gild--I am sure they thought it their duty to see that the Shire was recompensed for Saruman's depradations.

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 7/6/2005
"...and an endurance that astonishes all who know him.”

I couldn't help myself to chuckle at this bit.

"He (Paladin) felt lost, trying to understand something that was far beyond his experience. Yet he thought he had to try."

Very nice! Poor Paladin is feeling so out of place...


Pippinfan



Author Reply: Surviving being squashed by a troll certainly takes endurance, I'd say, LOL!

Paladin is feeling a bit out of his depth; what Pippin has experienced is so far beyond anything his father has ever experienced. Still, he is beginning to get an inkling of what it all meant...

Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 17 on 7/30/2004
I started reading this story yesterday, and come thus far, and I love it! I had to force myself to stop, because I almost fell asleep on my computer. This is so great! It`s so good to see the families of Merry and Pippin and the Big Folk and Bergil! I really can`t go back reviewing each chapter, but I have to say that I enjoy this very much, and I like how you use humor and good nature and everything hobbits are to intimidate the Big Folk. And the gifts from Rohan and Gondor! No wonder the gossip started. That was so great and such an appreciation. I also like how Frodo actually is a little angry over all the people who wants to praise him for what he did. Good work! I`ll read more soon.

Author Reply: I'm so glad you are enjoying the story so far. I've been having a good time with it, although it has turned into a much longer and more populated tale than I originally envisioned.

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 17 on 5/11/2004
And here I was thinking Eothain's news had something to do with Eowyn and a certain Steward of Gondor. As wonderful as that news would be, this is even better and far more useful to the hobbits. They could have a field day with that chest alone, and to know there's more still to come is pretty overwhelming.

It's so cute that the men tried to make them afternoon tea. :)

PervincaReviewed Chapter: 17 on 5/11/2004
You had me wondering just as much as the hobbits were about the news Éothain had to tell. Wonderful! I was always under the assumption that the Shire was restored after the occupation (I believe "The Grey Havens" actually says so), but I don't know that JRRT actually stated where the funds to do this came from, save a donation from Lobelia, and I doubt that would suffice. A delightful explanation - it's only fitting that Saruman's own treasury should pay to mend his evil.

Collecting the heads of the family? Now that should be interesting. :)

- Pervinca

Author Reply: I am glad you were surprised! As you said, the donation from Lobelia would not go nearly far enough to undo all the damage her son had wrought, and obviously Saruman's early means of corrupting the Shire were mainly financial, so he had to have some substantial funds on hand. With the attitude of the Rohirrim (which was a Saxon-type culture) on weregild, as well as their gratitude to the hobbits, it only made sense for them to send a portion of that to the Shire.

JRRT does not say a lot about the mechanisms of politics in the Shire, aside from the fact that they do elect a Mayor; but this is a rural culture, very clan-based, so I'm thinking that this is something like how it would work, rather than a modern-style democracy with everybody voting. Right now I'm digging in the family tree appendix to try and figure out who the major players will be. I'm trying very hard not to resort to OCs unless I have to. ( I've already used more than I'd like to in this story, but people have to have names, and once they have a name, suddenly they have a personality. Strange how that works.)

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 17 on 5/10/2004
Now Paladin is really confused isn't he? I can wait to see what he decides to do. I look forward to more.

Author Reply: Paladin is not the only confused one, but he's the one with a serious Father/Son talk in the near future.

Return to Chapter List