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The Tenant from Staddle  by Larner 12 Review(s)
White GullReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/23/2006
One of the things I love about fanfic is seeing the many "takes" on beloved characters. Well, character... Frodo. He's wonderful almost any way he's written, but I most love the views are closest to canon. Yours is very good. Thanks.

Author Reply: Thank you, White Gull. Most of my stories have Frodo either as one of the main characters or as one the other characters are still aware of, think about, and describe to others. His impact on the traditions of Gondor and Arnor had to have been pretty strong.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/2/2006
This is going to be a review of the last two chapters, but there was so much to take in that it becomes quite difficult!

I loved the way the Rangers took care of Bob and his family, and the family dog that followed them anyway. All the little details to be considered when you go on a trip with young girls - just great! And the moment when Bob finally realised that he didn't know the Hobbit name of Lord Iorhael - that's what I was expecting.

Bard is a good observer concerning the four travellers, and especially Frodo. From what little they have told him he is able to derive a lot that is close to the mark.
Frodo does everything he can to be a good deputy mayor, but he needs people to tell him to stop. He will never be satisfied with his work, at least not on Middle Earth. Sad, but true, I think!

Now, I'm looking forward to the first meeting of Boboli and Lord Iorhael! Maybe Teo is wearing one of these extraordinarily fine shirts, which belonged to Frodo I'd say.

Author Reply: Thanks for the review.

Glad you feel the details are right; I certainly remember the trips we would make when I was young, and then those we made with our children. And my own dogs hate being left home. Yogi will come out and jump in the car when the door's opened to try to be included. And there does come the time when he realizes that not only he isn't certain which is Lord Iorhael, but neither do those in the Shire. It's frustrating for him.

And you are certainly right about both Bard and Frodo.

And we'll see at least one of those shirts again. Frodo tried to leave his time out there OUT THERE, but it didn't work--can never truly work. He's been marked by his experiences, whether he accepts it or not.

ElemmírëReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/2/2006
Another excellent chapter to what looks to be another intriguing tale of yours, Larner. Looking forward to more!

Author Reply: Am trying to keep up. Stirring Rings is being more recalcitrant, and insists on careful review and even then proves to need small corrections. This one is mostly flowing out, and is threatening to take over. Have to insist it pace itself.

Thanks so much for telling how interesting you find it.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/2/2006
Bard may have been jealous of Frodo, but he is seeing quite clearly how much Frodo has changed and is drawing his clues from it. Somehow it is reassuring to know he has changed his mind and comes to love Frodo now.
And he has noted the changes even in Sam, too. Sam has to be the one of the four in which it is not so obvious and it needs a bit more perceptiveness, I think, to realise how confident and responsible he is now and how much more authority he has gained.

Enjoyed it to see how protective the lawyers are of Frodo, forbidding him to take documents with him back home to work there. Very sensible of them.

Author Reply: Bard is now secure in his role as Pearl's husband, so has no need to be jealous now, particularly as he sees no sign Frodo has any interest in any lass any more. As a result his basic compassion is now engaged, and he finds he cares far more deeply for Frodo than he'd dreamed possible, particularly seeing how driven Frodo is to see things set right with the Shire.

And it would take time for most to realize Sam is as changed as he is. He isn't just a rustic soul with no care beyond his garden and his Master--he no longer can keep from seeing things that need doing and just get busy doing them in response; he's been tested and has never truly been found wanting; he's been through the worst his life can throw at him, and he knows he's capable. As a result he has become indeed the Lord Perhael, with an inner nobility that's merely the smoothing and polishing of qualities that were already there.

And these who see just how much Frodo puts into seeing the administration of the Shire set right again are beginning to appreciate him, and don't want to lose him prematurely due to working himself into the ground.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2006
Interesting that Bard has noticed so much about the change in the Travelers, and yet he's not quite able to piece together what really happened. It seems that there's one last clue that continues to elude him.

Boboli is going to be very impressed when he finally meets his mysterious new landlord.

Author Reply: Exactly what Frodo did isn't completely clear to him as yet, mostly because he can't bring himself to believe all he's been told or what he's read of the King's correpsondence to Paladin. That Pal is still fighting the truth doesn't help matters. But what he needs is to gain sufficient frame of reference to appreciate what Frodo and Sam actually did and to appreciate the implications of what would have happened if Sam and Frodo hadn't been successful. Unfortunately it can take time for all this information into place in the mind to truly appreciate it all.

But he's now had time to see that Frodo, no matter how superficial the changes appear on the surface, has changed drastically.

EndaewenReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2006
This brought a smile to my face.

Author Reply: Thank you, Endaewen. Am glad it did.

SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2006
Nice transition. I'm curious to see Frodo's reactions when he finally meets his tenant.

I liked the list of 'excepts.' Really conveys all the changes that the Quest must have wrought in Frodo.

Author Reply: The changes appear superficial; but for those who come to know Frodo intimately it becomes obvious the situation is far more serious than it appears on the surface.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2006
Poor Frodo - this is tough on him, considering his physical condition. But while the Shire needs his input, he will do his best. Bard is a good friend and cousin to him.

Author Reply: Frodo's not physically failing yet, but is certainly not as physically enduring as he was. And he's a stubborn Baggins after all--as you note, he'll do the best he can while he can, and Bard is finding himself WANTING to assist him as he can.

LúmëReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2006
I'm running out of new nice things to say :-) But I do want you to know that I enjoyed this chapter and you make me ache for Frodo's pain. How you continue to manage this is a wonder :-)

Author Reply: Thanks so much, Lume. Frodo knows some pain now, but the worst is knowing how much he's changed and how much of his simple appreciation of joy has been lost. There is a high cost sometimes tied to loss of innocence, and Frodo's paid it in full and then some.

ArmarielReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2006
OMG......that's a lot of "excepts" isn't it?

Author Reply: Well, one "except" leads to another, until Bard has to admit consciously that it ISN'T just a matter of "except" after all.

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