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Eleventy-one Years: Too Short a Time   by Dreamflower 3 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 38 on 5/23/2014
A difficult loss indeed, but one that would happen one day. At least he did not die slowly and painfully, which would have been so much harder on all of them. And bless Donna for her ability to help Bella laugh once more.

As for Longo--one sees from whom Otho gets his temprament!

Author Reply: Well, of course Bungo had been living on borrowed time ever since the Fell Winter; but if I have any way to avoid it I try not to let my characters die slowly and painfully!

Sisters fortunately have a good supply of stories from growing up together, so that they can comfort one another.

Longo's jealousy of his brother and his dislike of Tooks made for a terrible legacy for his descendants.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 38 on 5/22/2014
If his mother still knew how to laugh, then perhaps he could recall how as well.

A very sad chapter, but with a glimmer of hope at the end. Life will never be as it was before, but it can still be a good life.

I would love to hear more about Belladonna's decisions as Baggins Family Head and how they possibly affected Longo, who did not make friends that day, I fear.

Author Reply: Life will never be as it was before, but it can still be a good life.

Exactly! No, Longo made no friends, and he's setting up a world of disappointment for his descendants!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 38 on 5/22/2014
Conniving family, indeed! Ooooo they make me mad.

I much preferred Bilbo's eulogy, unspoken though it might be. Thank you for including it in the scene.

As to the family scandal, I am certainly not up to speed on that. Is that talked about in the earlier chapters of this story, or somewhere else? (I have Belladonna's marriage to Bungo as something of an exile, myself, though Bungo and Bella saw it more as a reward and blessing, and yours do, too, from the evidence.)

The tastelessness of the food goes far to describe Bilbo's state of mind. I'm glad you end the chapter with his mother's recovering her ability to laugh. Bless her dear sister's love and care!

Author Reply: Longo's always been jealous of his brother, and he's always been very prejudiced against Tooks. In my Shire, he's behind the move to declare Bilbo dead. (Evidence: Otho and Lobelia were not of age when Bilbo left on his adventure; clearly someone must have rushed their wedding through, and my idea is that it was intended from the beginning to get Bag End into the hands of the Sackville branch of the family!)

The "family scandal" is from my story "The Family Way", which was from a bunny Dana gave me after noticing the age gap between Hildigrim Took and Rosa Baggins, and the DOB for Adalgrim on the Family Tree. Basically, the two put "the dessert before the main course" as my Shire saying goes.

It's briefly mentioned in the second chapter of this story, as well.

I did want the chapter to end on a hopeful note, after all, for Belladonna needs to be able to succor her son and be his companion for several more years.

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