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The Road to Edoras  by Dreamflower 11 Review(s)
Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/7/2007
An excellent chapter! Incredible telling from each person's perspective of their 'little' journey - you have each voice so distinct.

I was most happy to see that Freddy wrote more than one letter - he defiitely is in charge of this expedition.

Many thanks - will continue to try to catch up!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/25/2005
I loved this chapter! LOL...I felt like a fly on the wall, zooming in on the shoulders of each hobbit to read their most secret thoughts. All of them have expressed a like for the Men accompanying them, and that each of them, in their own fashion, has already "grown". Even if they were to turn back now and go home, they would never be the same person that left because of all the things that they've experienced. The same would have been true for Pippin and Merry. Jolly's letter was cute--filled with all those sweet double-negatives!

Keep up the great writing!

Pippinfan

Author Reply: Shoot! Have to start over--I hit the back button by mistake and wiped out my reply! Grrr....

I'm glad you liked the letters. I tried to show a bit of each of them. In a story with such a large cast, it's easy to miss out on some of the characterizations. I hope this helped.

You are right that if they quit now, they would still be changed; yet one of the most profound changes is that if they were *offered* a chance to quit and go home, I do not believe any would take it at this point.

I had fun with Jolly's letter!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/28/2005
Nice letters.

Author Reply: Glad you liked them. It's a chance for each one to show their personality.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/23/2005
Somehow, I missed this chapter and read them out of order but I do love the letters to those at home. Enjoyed Berilac's very much and Jolly's too. I have to start reading in proper order. I didn't know I was behind until I read someone else's review and that was when I realized that I had missed a chapter. Reviews really are helpful that way.

Author Reply: Well, I don't suppose that it was too urgent to get these two chapters in order as they are happening more or less simultaneously, LOL! But hopefully the next ones you will be able to catch up with.

I had a good time with all the letters; and I thought it was a chance to let Beri and Jolly shine. Glad you liked them!

Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/21/2005
Letters home! I love the different voices you have in them - the jesting with cousins and formal letter to Paladin and loving devotion to family and sweethearts. :D

Author Reply: I wanted to get up close and personal with each of them. Freddy, of course, is the star, but I wanted all of them to have a chance to show just a bit of his or her own personality.

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/18/2005
Love all the letters, but the best part was Poppy saying that Beri just might be good enough for Viola. That was a fun ancedote about the bed-jumping. It is good to see Freddy having fun for a change. And I can just see Sam's reaction to being called a "real life hero" lol. You bring out all their personalities so well in their letters.

Author Reply: LOL! I could imagine that Poppy would see all of Beri's potential for her apprentice; if he measures up to Poppy's expectations, that's pretty good.

I always thought that Freddy might have been a bit wistful about the bed-jumping in "Conspiracy", so now he finally got his chance to try it--and you will note that the Brandybuck was not averse to trying it too, LOL!

Yes, Sam will be blushing all the way to the tips of his ears when he gets his brother-in-law's letter!

ElentarielReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/16/2005
That was a sweet, poignant remimder of the step that these hobbits are taking into the wide world of the big folk. It's interesting how Berilac's growing relationship with Viola has been noticed by everyone. Please continue the story.

Author Reply: Yes, they are all growing and learning.

*grin* I would imagine that in such a small group, it would be hard *not* to notice, LOL! But of course, minding other hobbits' business and taking note of romance is also very hobbity!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/16/2005
I always rather enjoy letter chapters - it's so interesting seeing things focused from a specific viewpoint. Freddy is - unsurprisingly - good at both formal and family, and his wish to protect is clear.

I'm a bit worried about those prisoners, though. I can't see them remaining meek and mild much longer.

The loss of identity must be one of the most horrible things about this shunning of villains in the Shire - removing individual identity is a rather unpleasant way of treating prisoners and possibly against the Geneva convention. I can see why it would drive them to depression - except that this lot aren't sensitive enough to get depressed. And they believe that everything is anybody's fault but their own.



Author Reply: I wanted to take a bit of a break in action, and concentrate a bit on the character's personalities. Freddy, being the main character, got to show his stuff in a few ways; but I wanted to also show the others, especially the ones who'd not yet had a turn to shine.

It's not going to be much longer for at least one of them. But remember that they are under the vigilant eye of Men, and Men who have learned enough of hobbits not to underestimate them. And also they are in terra incognita--they are still somewhat overwhelmed by the world they've been brought into.

In my Shire, the shunning is not *formally imposed* as a sentence, but it is customary, sometimes even occurring spontaneously in situations where no legal action has been taken (immediately after the Scouring, Sandyman was being shunned before the Thain issued word that action was called for in his case)--and tradition can be a harder taskmaster than law, sometimes.

The only one getting depressed so far is Clodio; and you will note Mistress Poppy's tart observation regarding that! But she will not let it go to the point of endangering his health.

And you are right about *that*: none of them is yet willing to admit to his own culpability.

MarigoldReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/15/2005
I loved these letters! You got each one in just the right voice, well done! : )

Almost to the you-know-what scene now, right? I am looking forward to it!

Author Reply: Oh goody! I tried hard to have each one reflect the personality of the writer as I envisioned it!

*grin*
Just a few more chapters. They are *still* a little too close to civilization right at the moment. But it's close.
You've noticed, I hope, that there has been a good deal of rain? ;-)

KittyReviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/15/2005
A nice interlude with letters! No question, Viola is quite formidable, and the others come to realize it. Apparently all have noticed the blooming romance between her and Berilac, too. They will watch with the same amusement as I do, I suppose.
Oh, and you do think to hold hands to comfort a frightened apprentice is too much for the G-rating? What a pity! O:-)

It is good to see in what high esteem they all held the Men and of course Legolas and Gimli. This embassy even now starts to prove Aragorns purpose right. And I think they start to see more clearly about the four Travellers. When they are back home next year, they will know enough to talk about them with the needed knowledge, and they will appreciate Frodo and Sam much more than they did. It always angered me how less they are esteemed in their own home in relation to Merry and Pippin. But then, this must have changed somewhen, or Sam would never have become Mayor. There must have been some work to convince the Shirefolk he is worth it. And of course, I wonder who has eventually convinced „Mr. Proper“ to accept this honour, as Sam himself surely thought it not proper to become Mayor.

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