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A Healer's Tale  by Lindelea 10 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 10 on 5/18/2005
A good parting (which I know that as you are following canon will not happen, and still waiting for Sam and the Ent draught, you know! Gonna have to read that one soon.) But a good preparation for the parting.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/16/2005
Poor Pippin. In fact, poor everyone. This is a very painful hobbit death-bed scene. And even here, Pippin is injecting humour - saving the liver for Isum, indeed! I want to know what Pippin's final trick is - and just how he plans to save Regi from the horrors of Thainship.

Ride, hobbits! But don't arrive before Pippin has had time to let us in on his secret.


Author Reply: I'm sorry. The painful death-bed scene is due to get more painful before things get better... and then worse... and then... but you already know the story, don't you? Yikes.

And now you know the rest of the story. (How did Paul Harvey manage to sneak in here?)

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/16/2005
Oh my god, now I'm really in a fix! I have not yet read "At the end of his rope" and now I see, there might be still hope for Pippin?
I'm really tempted to read that story. But after all, that would change the experience with this actual story completely, would'nt it?

It would not be fair for Pippin to die so young, but was it fair, that Frodo had to leave Middle Earth? At this point of the story, everything is possible!

I'm enjoying this story very much, thank you!

Author Reply: True, everything is possible!

I am glad you're enjoying the story. Will continue to try to update at least weekly, if not oftener. Depends, of course, on the demands of real life...

Thanks!

BeruthielReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/15/2005
Ouch, that was painful to read. Can't wait to see what Pip's up to regarding the succession. One last untraditional parting shot from the Shire's least predictable Thain?

Am very interested in seeing Diamond and Farry's last words to Pippin before the Ent draught works its miracles. I second what FantasyFan said, go ahead and kill us with angst.

Just a thought, we never saw Farry's reaction to Pip's sudden miraculous healing in "Rope", did we? Perhaps you could stick that in this story somewhere?

Author Reply: Hmmm, sounds like something he'd want on his gravestone. "The Shire's Least Predictable Thain"

Diamond and Farry's last words are either in the next Interval yet to be posted, or the one after that. Depends on how the chapters break. Am glad to have your go-ahead, for the scene is so angsty it hits me in the pit of the stomach.

Will give your last suggestion some thought. It isn't in the draft of *this* story either, just because of the symmetry in the story's ending. But perhaps I can tack on an epilogue.

Thanks!

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/15/2005
Oh, this is so wrong, wrong, wrong! Pippin's not supposed to die so young, in such terrible agony, with everything unfinished, surrounded by Nell and Vinca and Pearl, who love him but can't really understand him. He has to go when he's very old and quite ready, quietly and without pain, with Merry and Aragorn and Legolas around him: the family of his heart. And it wouold kill Merry if he died without him, impossible as it becomes to hold on forever.

It's just too painful to think about, so of course when you write it I think you're holding back from the full weight of angst you could dump on us. We all know and can be comforted by knowing how the story really ends, so go ahead, kill us in the next chapter, when Diamond says her final goodbyes.

On a more practical note, I was interested in Isum's promise that Diamond and Farry can have a home on the farm, and Farry an interest. Of course, he's too young to be Thain, and so the succession will pass out of Pippin's branch of the family. But I am wondering about the custom of the widow of the Thain retaining the title of The Took, if she chooses. I doubt that Diamond would choose to do so, but she could, I think, and then how would that be handled? It suonds like a loophole in Hobbit law to me, and a good way for a widow to negotiate quite a 'parting package' were it to be necessary.

And of course, I wonder what Pippin has got up to even in his dying moments. He's cooked up some spicy dish to feed the Tooks, but knowing Pippin it may not be to their taste. Who could he possibly name as sucessor? Reginard is full ready to take on the dreaded burden, and as steward everyone is expecting him to be named. Ferdi is special assistant - or is he still head of the escort? - but if anyone is singularly unsuited to be Thain, I think it is Ferdi. You know who I think would make a marvelous Thain would be Nell, but that might break with too much tradition. It must be a Took, so that leaves out a whole cast of characters. Will he name someone from outside the Great Smials? Oh, I should give up, I never can outguess Pip.

Hope your busy weekend is joyful instead of only busy.
FF

Author Reply: Umm, you're right, Diamond and Farry's farewell is going to be difficult at best.

In Isum's promise, I forgot the twins! So have had to rewrite just a little bit to put them in.

Yes, Diamond could retain the title of Took, or so Llinos told me once when we were discussing Paladin's death. (Eglantine could have remained "The Took" or head of the family, but she chose to give it up. Though Ferdi continued to consider Eglantine the head of the family, as he said in "Flames".)

Parting package... gives "retirement" a whole new meaning.

So if you've read the next Interlude you know what Pippin's cooked up. The question is, will they swallow it whole or spit it out?

Ooo, Nell as Thain. I toyed with the idea of Pippin naming Pearl, actually, but thought that it might be too radical, considering the weight of tradition. The idea wouldn't have even as much chance as a snowball in a very hot place...

Thanks!

Author Reply: p.s. Ferdi is special assistant. He lost his position as head of escort when he fell in the race and broke his arm again... well, not exactly then, but when the next Tournament rolled around, he was ruled out because of his infirmity. Tolly shot the best score and so he became the head of escort; meanwhile Pippin promoted Ferdi to special assistant and required him to be at his side whenever he had to meet with someone, as a sort of organic tape recorder. And that way, Ferdi also learned an awful lot about administration...

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/15/2005
Oh dear, you have be crying like a baby and I know that it turns out all right! All of your good-byes are very well done and make it much more sad than it was in At the End of His Rope! Although I am curious what is going on, is Regi the one being named successor or does he have someone else in mind? Could it possibly be Ferdi? Or is it even someone else? Looking forward to more and hoping there isn't too many more tears in it!

Author Reply: You are an excellent guesser! There will be quite a few more tears in an upcoming Interlude, I'm sorry to say, but you know me. It'll all come out in the end.

Thanks!

Mysterious JediReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/14/2005
I wonder who Pip means to name? I don't suppose it matters much, since he isn't going to die, but I'm still curious. I'll be looking forward to an update sometime withing the next several days!


<>< Saved from Sin Through Christ,
Mysterious Jedi

Author Reply: Well, now you know. (I think you've read the next Interlude, haven't you?) But what will they do about his wanting to set aside tradition? That remains to be seen.

Thanks!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/14/2005
Perhaps I should have waited to read, as I'm already rather teary today, and yet . . . and yet the love shines through and the gentleness pervades and the tears are good ones indeed. Thank you. :)

Author Reply: I'm sorry you were teary, and hope the trouble is better now. Not all tears are evil, they say.

*hugs*

Connie B.Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/14/2005
Oh, a cliffhanger! Yes, I know how it all works out, but it is still hard to leave them at this pass. Oh, Lindelea, you are ssoooo evil; in the most delicious way.:)

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to next week and a new one.

Connie B.

Author Reply: This, unfortunately, will continue to be a cliffhanger, at least all the Interludes will. Just one, long cliffhanger, yup.

Thanks for putting up with me!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/14/2005
*Whoosh!* If I did not know what was coming, I'd be climbing the walls. I very nearly was anyway--you almost made me forget what will happen! If you'd marked this story AU, I'd *really* be biting my nails.
I like the way each family member speaks to him; I love the way he manages to respond,though he is barely able to breathe. ("Save the liver"--made me smile through my tears.)
Hope you have a nice weekend! Take care!

Author Reply: What a terrible thing to do, to mark the story AU! It is bad enough to post these chapters, knowing the outcome! (I am the sort who reads the first chapter and last chapter of a book before diving into the middle. Write the same way.)

I do believe Pippin is incorrigiable (don't know how to spell the word, tho).

Thanks!

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