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A Matter of Appearances  by Lindelea 3 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 42 on 9/17/2006
And I'm glad they did. They are dead and passed on one hopes to something else with perhaps still a chance of redemption somewhere in their future; but they got to think about it, at least, a bit ahead of time, a time I think they needed.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 42 on 9/9/2006
I like the way Merry keeps forking the food into Ferdi. The poor hobbit must be in desperate need of sustenance by now, even if he seems to be able to go without food longer than most hobbits.

And the name ... just as well Nell can read Ferdi's mind. There's a lot of debate there it would appear. But if his wishes are truly out there, she can accidentally give the babe a more acceptable name - provided Ferdi doesn't get his voice back at the ceremony.

Pippin only asks Sam to do things? I'm not surprised - although the Tooks might be! Their conversation was interesting. Maybe Tolly was right - he may be an innocent hobbit, but he's not as green as he's cabbage-looking - he's known ruffians - if he thought those intruders were harmless, they were probably harmless.

I'm glad Tolly didn't hold to ruffian-torture - for his sake more than theirs. And a few hours of fear don't seem too harsh a recompense for a pair who regularly put innocent children through the torments of kidnapping. Their deaths came quickly in the end - and Tolly was left able to see that Strider's justice is swift. And as much for the victims as the criminals.

Author Reply: I was sort of figuring that Ferdi must be absolutely hollow by this point. I'm surprised they weren't trying to feed him, earlier, rather than letting him seek healing sleep as much as possible.

Thank you for your e-mail with the name--I managed to work it so that *that* name, from the other story, would still fit with the name that naturally emerged in the writing of this one. Whew. Bit of a stretch of the imagination, but it's done. And I think Pimpernel has a sense of humour, which is one of the things Ferdi loved about her from their earliest acquaintance. (She just doesn't get the chance to show it much, when the angst is running high.)

"Not as green as cabbage-looking". I just love your turns of phrase.

And you're right, the intruders were probably harmless, but if they had too much to drink and bragged about their narrow escape, and the wrong ears were listening (and maybe buying them drinks to spill more of the truth)... Just as well that Regi sent a messenger to the Rangers to plug that particular hole.

Poor Tolly. I hope Meadowsweet's remedy was just as effective as Elessar's, and probably, so far as he was concerned, more fun. I don't usually write so close to "racy" but EF dared me, and I had too much coffee at the time, and things took their course. (I'm sure Sweetie's "cure" had a wondrous effect, coupled with the heartening news that Tolly's best friend was not cold and in the grave.)

Anyhow, that "puts paid" to this story. Whew. Can hardly believe it's finished.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 42 on 9/9/2006
Poor Pippin! He was so stressed and exhausted when he handed the ruffians off to Tolly that he didn't remember what he ordered, did he? But even not quite remembering, Sam's put him straight.

I love Sam in this whole story. He's just wonderful here, reminding Pippin of what needs reminding, when anger and horror and exhaustion have made him forget. But he's such a rock. Regi's cute, in his Tookishness wondering why Pippin doesn't "order" the Mayor. As if Pippin would even think of such a thing with his friend!

And Merry was wonderful too! I loved seeing him feed Ferdi like a faunt, and his wondering about the swelling in the head was just so Merryish--no matter what the circumstances, he never stops wanting to *know* things.

As to Little Lass' name--I must be obtuse, I know you've left clues, and though I think I should know what it's going to be, it is escaping me entirely...

(And may I say, I'm glad there'll be another chapter?)

Author Reply: I'm secretly glad, too. I hate it when a story comes to an end, whether reading or writing. I often rush to the ending because of it, or else I write slower and slower and procrastinate.

Hopefully the last chapter of this one won't feel rushed. It's only the third part of a 9,000 word chapter! (But I hope that Tolly's trouble makes sense. It makes sense to me, but I'm perilously short of sleep.)

I love hearing what you loved. I need to do more of that when I review, too. *g*

And now you know that you guessed right, as to the name. Though she'll be known as "Flora" more often, amongst her relatives, a sort of love-name that's more hobbity than her real name. She has a lot in common with her cousin Faramir!

Thanks so much for sticking with this story, uncomfortable parts and all.

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