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All That Glisters  by Lindelea 8 Review(s)
Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/12/2005
Poor Pippin! Now I only hope that Aragorn and Arwen are able to convince him that he doesn't deserve to hang. I sensed that Merry knew that Aragorn would not punich Pippin, but I do think that Diamond got caught up in it all with her grief over possibly losing Pippin and if not for Merry, might have charged forth. I thought Hilly's objections showed his loyality to the Thain and his friendship for Pippin very well. He was nearly as good at making excuses in this issue as Pippin would have been.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/11/2005
Tooks! The stubbornest most uncompromising hobbits in the Shire! Pippin has a great deal of Frodo's attitude towards himself--judging himself far more harshly than he would anyone else in the same situation. Just as Frodo blamed himself for Gollum's death, even though he never even lay a hand on him after the creature had taken back the Ring (unlike movie-verse) Pippin is blaming himself for not being a mind-reader, and judging the situation according to the evidence of his own eyes.

Good for the King! Can you imagine how *Denethor* (not yours, the Steward) would have dealt with this? ("I agree, halfling! Take him off and see it done!")

Author Reply: Yikes! I can only imagine Denethor... back when I was writing Beregond's and Bergil's stories I imagined him taking a sword in his own hand to strike Beregond dead in payment for his "crimes", in the cold light of morning, had the steward taken Gandalf's hand instead of the torch the night before.

Funny how Pippin alternates between blindness and wisdom. He shouldn't be so quick to judge, in future, but he is. Very like the rest of us.

As an author yourself, could you let me know if the next chapter (or few chapters, not sure how the draft will break out) is anticlimatic? I'm including the material which feels like "background" to me, because it is mostly "comfort" to follow the "hurt", but in the original plan the next chapter after this was the Epilogue, set about ten years later.

Thanks!

Connie B.Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/11/2005
Uh, and I thought I could be hard on myself. I can't hold a candle to Pippin. This chapter definitely left me with misty eyes. I never thought that that was the guilt Pippin was feeling.

Let us know if you make changes to this chapter.

Thanks.

Connie B.

Author Reply: Just a few tweaks, thus far, and smoothing out rough spots, which will probably continue.

The major change that editor-friend and I have been discussing is whether or not Samwise was in this scene.

As one of the Travellers, he might be included, but taken in the light of an intimate family problem, it's more likely that he acted as advisor, outside the scene, sparing Pippin's sensibilities by not being a presence at the hearing. Diffidence, is that what you call it?

Thanks.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/11/2005
"[Simple minds] tend to forget that strange element in the World that we call Pity or Mercy, which is also an absolute requirement in moral judgement (since it is Present in the Divine nature). In its highest exercise it belongs to God. For finite judges of imperfect knowledge it must lead to the use of two different scales of ‘morality’. To ourselves we must present the absolute ideal without compromise, for we do not know our own limits of natural strength (+grace), and if we do not aim at the highest we shall certainly fall short of the utmost that we could achieve. To others, in any case of which we know enough to make a judgement, we must apply a scale tempered by ‘mercy’: that is, since we can with good will do this without the bias inevitable in judgements of ourselves, we must estimate the limits of another's strength and weigh this against the force of particular circumstances. We frequently see this double scale used by the saints in their judgements upon themselves when suffering great hardships or temptations, and upon others in like trials." Tolkien, letter 246

Pippin is more like Frodo than he thinks. Only the saints have consciences.


Author Reply: Thanks for the quote! I was worried that I might be taking Pippin into that perilous territory (out of character) on the fringes of JRRT's world, for I wrote this "by the seat of my pants" and didn't take a lot of time to cross-check it with other things, depending, rather, on weight of previous thought and discussion, and a new infusion of good old stuff (i.e. re-reading the Original)

Whew, that sounded almost scholarly. (Almost.)

I see Pippin as a great deal like Frodo. Perhaps it's unconscious compensation, on my part, for Frodo having been taken out of the story.

Thanks again!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/11/2005
Do keep getting up early if this is the result, Lindelea. Draft or not it makes wonderful reading. I am going to have to take time to go back and re-read to get the full effect. What an awful chore!!!
This chapter puts me in mind of 'The Trial of Frodo Baggins'. Another good read. Your portrayal of a king who is well able to temper the strictness of the Law with mercy and compassion is nicely in keeping with Tolkein's scene with Beregond - well done.

Author Reply: The only problem with getting up early is that it robs me of sleep, as circumstances prevent me from going to bed a bit earlier to compensate! But thank you for the encouragement!

I will have to look up "The Trial of Frodo Baggins". I've heard of it, but haven't seen it. Do you happen to have a link lying about, handy?

Must admit that the scene with Beregond is what catapulted me into fanfic in the first place.

Thanks!

pippinheartReviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/11/2005
Perfect...We finally breach the walls of what was eating at pippin... He wanted Aragorn to seek justice against him,but he gave kindness to one who is loved and needed it so much...
Please continue....

Author Reply: Thankfully this story is written to the end (in very rough draft form) and all I have to do is type it in while smoothing out the rougher edges, taking out a little, adding a little, but not having to do a whole lot of composing.

Which is good. Not much composing is going on at present. The Muse always hates it when I decide it's time to cut down on coffee.

Thanks for commenting!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/11/2005
I think Pippin's logic is debatable - if hobbity. As an officer of the king, he had a duty to prevent the child snatcher from evading capture. To rely on the guard turning up and taking him would have been abrogating his responsibility to ensure the safety of other children in the realm. He made a decision to take the criminal down. Fair enough. So he had a personal stake in it - doesn't really make a difference. He did not intentionally cause the kidnapper's death, although it was a possibility given where he was at the time.

Jack - well, same thing applies, really. His intention was to protect the hobbitlings; innocence against presumed guilt. Yes, he would have been wrong, but spur of the minute decisions during moments of crisis don't give the luxury of extended debate.

I think Ferdi could have dealt with carrying out these actions with much greater acceptance. One of Pippin's major problems is possibly that he feels that what he has done is unhobbit-like. And there, I think he is wrong. He feels that his war-time experiences have taken away his innocence and made him able to behave in a way that he would not have expected. There he is right - but that is, in many ways, becoming an adult, responsible for the care of others, both as husband, father, friend and Thane.

Still Elessar and Arwen are being very understanding - and they seem to have got through to him now. He needs to start eating again or he'll be the tallest, thinnest hobbit ever. They'll be able to use him as a lamp post.

Author Reply: Hmmm. Lamp post. There's a thought. He was threatened with being used as a beanpole in "Jewels". You'd think he'd learn.

Yes, Pippin's logic is debatable, but then, in the Shire the intention is nearly as important (or maybe more) as the action. Pippin threw the fatal stone at the ruffian not to stop him for the sake of justice, but in fury and grief, to avenge his son. He ordered Jack shot not out of necessity, to keep him from escaping with Farry, but in a cold, calculating manner, possibly even feeding that vengeful feeling. It was all in the motivation, you see, and only Pippin knew what was going on in his heart. Looking back, it was so ugly he could hardly stand to live with himself.

Ferdi might well have handled the situation better, especially if he could be "dispassionate" and "professional" about killing the ruffians out of necessity--not that he wouldn't suffer pangs of regret later, for life is precious and he has too good an imagination, sensitive Took that he is. (The Man was someone's precious baby at one time. Not practical, but hobbity.)

Thanks!

Roger GamgeeReviewed Chapter: 68 on 1/11/2005
Now this is the sort of scene that brings tears to your eyes. I'm glad to see Pippin finally opening up about what has been bothering him. I think he may have realized what the penalty was for his 'crime', but wanted to hear it straight from the King himself. To see Aragorn temper justice with mercy...

"‘The heart of a grieving father, in the heat of the moment, as his loss overwhelmed him,’ Elessar said. ‘That is what I see before me. It is not the heart of a murderer, for such a one would not have so bitterly mourned the death he wrought, nor regretted the death he ordered, even though it never came to pass.’"

This is the mark of a true leader of men. Well done, Lindelea!

Author Reply: Thank you!

I do enjoy the contrast between down-to-earth Strider, Friend to Hobbits, and Wise and Understanding King. Or maybe I mean "blend" rather than contrast.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

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