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The Tenant from Staddle  by Larner 8 Review(s)
Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/21/2007
I love the Hobbit names for the Rangers.I'm glad they respect them more now.

Author Reply: I would think once the connection between the lack of the Rangers and the influx of ruffians was made, the folk of Bree would begin questioning their preconceptions regarding just how sinister the Rangers really were. True respect will come over time, however. Thanks so much for the note, Linda.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/20/2007
Petunia's not going to get the whole story from Rangers - close-mouthed lot, they are! She'll have to be a bit cleverer than that to learn more. But she's still finding out a lot of things that Shirefolk don't generally suspect - and she might be able to do a bit of addition.

Author Reply: Oh, yes, they're closed-mouthed, but she's still managing to learn more than they think she is, and indeed far more than most of her countrymen. And I suspect she's able to figure pretty well, as is true of her older brother.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/15/2007
“Lords of the realm aren’t usually expected to need to answer to the orders of any but the King and their wives, although I have heard Lord Samwise make very strong suggestions a time or two to Lord Frodo for the sake of his health that he responded to.”

That's our Sam! :) I love it. If there is anyone who can outstubborn our Frodo, it's him. And Frodo knows that well enough. Irresistable force meets immovable object and the object moves.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Yes, Frodo and Sam between them would care for one another in spite of themselves, and I'm certain when they were with Aragorn they'd do the same for him. Three brothers watching out for one another, and at times resenting what is seen as nagging or overcaution, but at the same time glad for one another's caring.

Yes, immovable object and irresistable force facing one another down.

Thanks so much, Antane.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/15/2007
That someone is hearing Frodo called ‚Ringbearer’ and remembers all the vanished rings was to be expected – but I always wonder just *what* they think about that and if some will blame him even if he wasn’t there. I am glad the lasses don’t think this way!

A frog in the punch bowl? No wonder Ronica was allowed to go away from the party! *grin*

Anyway, these two lasses seem not only to be curious, but adventurous as well. Must have some Took blood, no doubt.

“So,” he said, “you wished to speak with a Ranger. I’m not certain how advisable that is, for if it gets out that anyone who wishes can actually approach us and carry on a conversation, I fear our reputations as ne’er-do-well vagabonds will be quickly forgotten. Then who will seek to ignore us pointedly any more?” *lol* I’d say that would be a nice change for the Rangers ;-)
Btw, good idea for them to have this house in Bree!

What a pity Gilfileg knows that Frodo doesn’t want others to know much. It’s so brave of the lasses to go and ask the Rangers to finally get answers to all the questions the Travellers don’t answer. I am impressed that they tried after all, particularly Petunia, who is not used to men as Ronica is. They deserve to know more.

Author Reply: Yes, someone would have had to put the title and the missing rings together sometime, and it made sense to me it would be the youngest one, who'd tend to take the title literally and begin putting together the facts that would begin the questions.

And someone had to have put a frog in the punchbowl when Bree's answer to Hyacinth Took and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins was likely to be present. I had to find someone who would take care of bringing the old biddy down a peg or two, didn't I? (Grinning)

I like to think that there were Rangers with a decided sense of humor and the absurd, and that as Gilfileg was at hand--well, he fit the bill, I thought. I truly like Gilfileg ever since he rode into The King's Commission.

I'm so glad so many appreciate the Ranger's safe house. It only made sense to me to have such a place.

Unlike Ronica, Petunia hasn't spent all her life being conditioned to seeing the Rangers as unapproachable, and she's met Eregiel now, of course, and knows he's okay. That she'd make the next step and begin seeing all as people she might trust to give her good information I think would be natural; and I doubt any lass like Ronica would let someone else take such an adventure on her own. But now the family will know there are at least two dependable Rangers about, and in time the whole town will come around as more and more of the King's Men, whether in Ranger garb or the black and silver of the King's messengers, will be an accepted part of everyday life.

SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/13/2007
Oh, I do like the notion of the Rangers having a safe house in Bree!

Author Reply: And I am glad you do, Surgical Steel. Thank you. I do think they would have kept one there, after all, even if Serilinde and Halbarad didn't rule over it.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/13/2007
I wish that I had enough hair on my feet to stand up and shiver too! *g*. Every OC you introduce we fall in love with immediately! Frogs in the punch indeed! *g*
I like the hobbit links to the past and between Bree and the Shire. I am also getting fascinated with Ranger names, both real and endowed by Breelanders.

And I just adore the idea that the Rangers had a safe house in Bree with a secret entrance! Reminds me of the French Resistance in WW II.

Author Reply: I am glad you like Ronica--she's my answer to a Pippin in the Breelands, I suspect. And I'm trying to find ways to tie this story to Stirring Rings as well, obviously.

The Rangers of Eriador would have needed a place where they could come for healing, or from which they could keep watch on the doings of suspicious newcomers, I'd think, a place I'm certain even Gandalf would have remained in ignorance of. But between them I suspect Arathorn and Aragorn would find such an establishment necessary and desirable. And if Lindor might have been one of the quiet advisers as to how the defense of the Breelands might be carried forward, it could help explain how it was there was an effective defense in Bree where there had been none in the Shire.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/12/2007
Ah, I like Ronica! She's quite an imp! Frogs in the punch, LOL! And Petunia's curiousity smacks almost of Tookishness.

Petunia almost has enough pieces of the puzzle to fit it together--but does she have a big picture to go by? It will be interesting to see what she does with her information...

Author Reply: Yes, Ronica reminds me of a certain cousin who helped Pippin get into some very odd difficulties, I think. Something about glue in the shampoo bottle and poor Lobelia and a coal scuttle?

Petunia does have more Baggins to her than Begonia has, and perhaps a bit of Took as well. She's indeed beginning to piece it together, and isn't really happy once she begins understanding what the picture might be. But she's better guarded, I think, than she realizes.

Thanks for the review.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/12/2007
Petunia and Ronica are two very brave lasses indeed, to go out seeking Rangers who must be over twice their size and very sketchy-looking people. But their bravery is rewarded, it seems.

Author Reply: Yes, their bravery is rewarded; but Petunia is beginning to realize there are some things far more horrible than she dreamed existed beyond the boundaries that have protected her so far.

Of Delphie's children Persivo and Petunia have the strongest Baggins blood, I think, or so it seems at the time; but Alyssa is more observant than others realize, and even Begonia may prove to have unplumbed depths.

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