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A Matter of Appearances  by Lindelea 5 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 39 on 9/5/2006
Yes, he's too young to know that satisfaction and to need that reassurance; but he's far from the youngest or the most innocent. And Aragorn has read in his heart what was needful for the child.

And now we're off to the celebrations. Hooray!

Am in Gresham.

Author Reply: We have violin lessons at 2, so perhaps we could meet after 3? Will call you in the morning. (Am on dh's computer so I can't email you at the moment.)

Ah, Aragorn.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 39 on 9/5/2006
"Farry nodded, and in a voice that was much too old for such a little lad, he said, ‘Good.’

And Pippin buried his face in his son’s shoulder, and breathed the living scent of his son, and felt Farry’s breaths filling his small torso, and relaxing again, one breath after another, steady breaths, and Farry’s hands came together to grasp his father’s hands, holding him, and they were warm and strong in their grip."

Done and Done!

I loved nell and Ferdi in the previous chapter, them just getting cuddly and the Little Lass decides she's hungry. Very typical of babies ;-)

Author Reply: *Very* typical. Babies seem to have a built-in "inconvenience radar".

LOL!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 39 on 9/5/2006
The High King is very wise. Faramir needed to know - really know that Red wouldn't be back. He might have been able to cope with the survival of Brawny who didn't threaten him directly - but Red is a creature of nightmare. Farry might be young, but he has seen more than many hobbits ten times his age.

And sitting on your Da's lap with a fully belly and a warm fire to comfort you - what better way to look into a Palantir?

And I love the observational nature of the first paragraph - rather like describing the movements of an aristo who had just come off rather the worse for a confrontation with Madame Guillotine. I do think Berendil's blade through the heart would be enough to convince even Tolly that these two wouldn't walk again.

I sense winding up. I hope Ferdi is recovered enough for the naming of his little lass - and that Pippin returns in time for the burying of the poor young ruffian - one who was too good for the company he kept.


Author Reply: What better way, I ask you? Perhaps the very first cinema, ever invented.

Ah, yes, the first paragraph. It is easiest to write such things at a little distance, I find.

We are winding up. It ought to have been just one very long chapter, but our Internet is really being ticklish and so am having to break it up and feed it through the phone line a little bit at a time.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 39 on 9/5/2006
Yes, it was disturbing to everyone--all of it--but it was necessary, too. The hobbits most affected by this regrettable incident *had* to know that the worst of the Bad Guys would not be returning to carry out some horrible revenge. Farry, especially, after his ordeal needed to know that.

Poor Tolly, yet he was very brave.

And for Pippin to be able to endure the palantir, and to allow Farry to see it, just shows both how desperate he was, but also how much love and trust he has for his King.

Author Reply: EF has been telling me too many "returned from the dead" plots she's read/seen lately. It was getting so bad I was tempted to put a silver spike in Red's heart. But all's done and don't have to think about him any more.

Nice summation in the last paragraph of your review. Desperation, love and trust. That was the crux of the scene.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 39 on 9/5/2006
'The night is darkest just before the dawn'. And that is the feeling that I get from this chapter. I think that any victim of crime or assult would feel exactly like Tolly , Faramir and Pippin. Great idea to use the Seeing Stone and I love Pippin's first reaction to it. 'The burned hand teaches best.'
I agree that Berendil really should have questioned the ruffians first but I don't think that I could have coped with reading an intererrgation scene as well. (Nor could you have borne writing it.) So more scruffy 'Rangers' lurking in corners will have to make up for it! *G*

Author Reply: Good observation, I hadn't thought of that. You're right, the Light is coming, leaking into the story, and it won't be denied.

I could not write such a scene, as you surmise. I find I wouldn't even want to imagine it.

But I do enjoy imagining scruffy Rangers, I find.

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