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A Matter of Appearances  by Lindelea 6 Review(s)
harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/28/2006
Hm... second chances can be granted and it sounds like he has abused his! Third or more chances, especially for this offense, may be a lot, lot harder to contemplate.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/28/2006
Poor Ferdi. Still - silent is better than a lot of other options. And he has got his tongue back before. Nell's attentions probably make him feel rather better, too.

Sam is such a clever hobbit. He is getting a lot of messages across to these two villains. And so is Tolly! I don't think either of them has a chance of convincing these two hobbits - these ruffians have a short and uncomfortable life ahead of them, but maybe Brawny and Red will begin to develop a bit of an appreciation of what they attempted to take on. And maybe not.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/27/2006
*grins* I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! *more smug grinning*

I love the way Sam steered the conversation, to let the Men know that *he* knew exactly what kind of people they really were. It also helped Tolly to realize that Sam knew what's what--I've noticed your Tooks seem to rather disregard non-Tooks a lot. But I think Tolly should be somewhat relieved now--and even moreso when Sam turns this lot over!

Interesting, the way Brawny decides that it would be useful to beg for mercy from a Ring-bearer. But Tolly's interjection was a surprise to Brawny and Sam both! (Not to me, though! *grins again*)

(I'm rather insufferably pleased with myself. 8-D)

Author Reply: Go ahead. Be pleased with yourself. You've earned it.

(You must be a card-carrying member of ARC--the Astute Readers Club)

And if I might say so, Tolly is in for even more of a surprise, on this little journey. It was originally in this chapter, but when I hit 2000 words I knew there was no way I could get it all in. Next time, I hope. But I messed up, with the Nell-Farry scene, which was actually a *later* scene, and now I'm not quite sure how to rectify the error. Aargh.

(not insufferably pleased with myself. So you go ahead. Someone ought to be!)

MaidenofValinorReviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/27/2006
Eek. You're good.
Wonderful, wonderful conversation between Tolly and Sam.
*bows to you*
I can't imagine I'd be too thrilled about finding something like that in the market, either. Eep.
Good to see Ferdi recovering...I hope. Never know, with your twists.
:)

Author Reply: Whoa, it's fun to hear I'm good!

*bows in return*

LOL, shouldn't be too many twists left. This story is already twice as long as I'd first outlined it.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/27/2006
If looks could kill! Tolly *would* have killed if Frodo hadn't interferred. Though if the man had thrown down his weapon, I think you said he had, then Frodo was right. But here we are back at my uneasiness with mercy. (I know, makes me sound horrid) Where is the mercy to those innocent victims this man has had in between times? Ones who would not have suffered had Frodo not shown mercy.

*sigh*

I hope I never have such a choice to make.

I truly hope Red rots in Undun!!!

Author Reply: What is Undun? I'd love to know if Red is in for some prolonged compensation for his deeds, more than this story can accomplish.

I don't think you sound so horrid. I get squeamish when I hear of guilty murderers being let off because of some technicality or other.

How would the Shire have looked, had Saruman not been "let go"?

And yet, the brawny man "being there" might have saved Farry. What if the brawny man hadn't been there, and the fat man had gone into the Shire with Red and the club-wielder and the young ruffian, on the strength of the stolen map, and the young ruffian had been sent off in the brawny man's place, leaving Red to take Farry's "tokens"? All things might well work together for good in JRRT's M-e, even though we cannot see the good from our perspective. (Difficult concept, something that I still wrestle with.)

*hugs*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/27/2006
He's had his share of mercy, and misused it. Is he worthy of another? I find I don't think so. May he be pitied.

Author Reply: Pitied, but well-deserving of his fate. You can pity someone without witholding their due...

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