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| As the Gentle Rain by Lindelea | 248 Review(s) |
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| Meldewen Ilce | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 6/13/2004 |
| First of all you had me crying for nearly the entirity of the previous chapter as I did not want to see Ulrich die - I could help but feel sorry for the executioner as I know he did not want to have to hang a friend - and I cried when Fredegar went to offer his life for Ulrich's, and it was tears all around when they reached the gallows. I am so glad Merry and Elfwine found that thing in the law that allowed for Ulrich to be saved and I must admit I was a bit surprised when Nell told them to hang the Pilgrim as I know it is not the hobbit way to take a life. Still once the man was dead it was a way of knowing for sure that he would never harm her or her own ever again. And it seems it is a bit ironic that the executioner hung his own uncle... LOL - I could help but laugh at the part in the Houses of Healing when the healer scolded Faramir for yelling for quiet. And Ulrich's retrial - I am glad they decided that the man who was the Lockholes guard died years ago and that Ulrich is not that man. I am glad that he is now free to return home to his family! Oh this story has been wonderful, so angsty - I almost regret seeing it come to a close! Brava! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 51 on 6/13/2004 |
| Just don't want to leave this chapter out. What a night - sitting through it knowing you are going to die at dawn. Like sitting at a deathbed, only you are the victim. What a cliff-hanger! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 6/13/2004 |
| Oh, very devious. It's amazing what you can get away with when everyone is colluding. I hope poor Nell doesn't suffer dreadfully from having been the one to 'free' Brant through asking for his death. He would have found release from the Pilgrim at last. Plus, a lifetime in a dungeon really is not preferable. Good old Ulrich, turning down Freddy's offer to save him - very honourable. And I thought it would take Merry until the last millisecond. Though it seems a bit nit-picking to demand a precedent and then fix the re-trial. (Who creates the first precedent? If you can't do something without a precedent then how do you ever start doing anything?) Brilliant. I don't want it to end. The hobbits are great, but the non-hobbits are great too. More. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 6/13/2004 |
| I would go for more reader torture myself. It's more fun. Divide and rule. You are taking this to the wire, aren't you? I hope rescue comes somehow, but I suspect he will have the rope round his neck when Merry comes rushing down, yelling, 'Wait! I've found a precedent.' I just hope he doesn't come rushing down shouting, 'Freddy's dead.' I am surprised they didn't wangle him another couple of days to see if Frodovar would recover (because he saved his life) or to allow his own wound to heal (pointless as that would seem, you seem to have to be healthy before they execute you). I shall be sorry to see this end. Fingers crossed you have some more hobbit adventures planned! Author Reply: Sorry, you got outvoted. But the two chapters are nearly ready for posting (the one is, and the other is coming along). The Muse agrees with you, or why would she end so many chapters with cliffhangers? I always feel sorry for the readers when that happens, for I have the comfort of knowing what happens next, and they don't (unless they are shrewd guessers). Something in your review was quite funny; I won't tell you what it was now but you'll see on Monday. Anyhow, this gives me time to polish the second half of the chapter that split itself in half. I have always thought it quite ironic that you have to be in good shape to be executed--though I suspect it was not always so. I remember tales in my history reading of men dragged from their sickbeds to be hanged or whatever... Thank you for the kind words. I surely appreciate the reviews; many of them have made me a more thoughtful writer. I'll be sorry to see this end, as well. It has required much deep thought to put together. (The Muse pats my shoulder in an unusually gentle manner and murmurs something about the "thain story" and "farry and ferdi go to gondor".) | |
| Beruthiel | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 6/12/2004 |
| Drat. Just typed up a nice review and accidently deleted it. I'll retype it 'cause you are a fantastic author and you deserve something for all the writing you do. Reader's poll: both on Monday please. Had my fill of cliffies for now. Following the rules sucks sometimes. Perhaps a certain Muse will know of some loophole in Gondor's law that would help Ulrich (hint, hint, Musie dear). Ferdi must be having a tough time as well. On the one hand, this has been good for him: he's learned that not all men are ruffians, and you can't judge all by the actions of a few. But, he also has to watch a new friend die, which he wouldn't have to go through if he hadn't adjusted his view of Big Folk. He just doesn't have much good luck, does he? Absolutely wonderful story. I'll be sorry to see it end! Author Reply: You are a gem amongst readers. I hate it when the computer swallows a review! But it is always so nice when a reader takes the time to type it in again. Monday it is. It surprised me that so many opted for delayed gratification, though I suppose a doozy of a cliffhanger did sound a bit daunting. (daunted me, or I would have posted it without asking you what *you* thought) The Muse knows all along how a story will come out. Sometimes she surprises even me (like I didn't know the significance of the executioner until I wrote that part, but it all fit together like pieces of a jigsaw, so it must have been in the back of my mind for quite awhile). The rough draft for the next chapter (or 2 chapters, to be precise) has been in existence a long time, and the outline was written from that starting point. Poor Ferdi. I think he's decided that the luck of the Tooks is not his strong suit. Thanks for the words of praise. | |
| Connie | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 6/12/2004 |
| Here's my two cents worth on the Readers' Poll. Post both parts Monday. I say this for purely selfish reasons. One, I don't think I can take another cliffy today;and two, I probably won't have much time for reading tomorrow since my daughter gets home from camp tomorrow and then is off to her dad's on Monday morning. By Monday I'll need something to take my mind off the next 18 days of enforced peace and quiet. Thanks. Connie. Author Reply: Poor thing, enforced peace and quiet... I think I would write my little fingers off in such a situation. Probably a good thing that I'm over-busy. The majority voted for Monday, so if the Lord allows the last few chapters of the story will be posted then. | |
| Lyta Padfoot | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 6/12/2004 |
| I'm certain a certain author will be able to inspire the jurors into devising a way to save Ulrich. Author Reply: Well, one would certainly hope that was the case... | |
| Lyta Padfoot | Reviewed Chapter: 49 on 6/12/2004 |
| Good thing Nell is all right, Ferdi might have been tempted to murder otherwise. | |
| Connie | Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 6/12/2004 |
| Argh! Anothe cliffy. Looks like we now wait like Ulrich. This truly is the eleventh hour. Can Merry come up with a miracle? Will the jurors condemn themselves for sentencing an honourable man? Things that make you go "hmmm". Thanks. Connie. Author Reply: Did you see the reader poll? I'm giving readers a chance to read more soon (but as a consequence to get stuck with a really nasty cliffhanger) or wait until Monday when I'll have time to type in the next chapter after the cliffhanger and post both cliffie and resolution at once. What do you think? ...and thanks for commenting! | |
| Connie | Reviewed Chapter: 49 on 6/12/2004 |
| That Nell, what a woman. She can actually find it in her heart to speak for the Brant half of that madman's mind. Amazing. I commend her. I couldn't do it. They've taken Ulrich, without even a goodbye to his newfound friends. That's just plain cold, that is. I keep hoping against hope that they can get him out of this. But it looks like they may be flat out of time. Oh man, what a cliff hanger. Connie. Author Reply: Hobbits are amazing creatures, able to find pity in their hearts for the most surprising and degraded fellow creatures... Perhaps Ulrich didn't want to distress the hobbits by saying goodbye. He might have thought to spare them pain when they'd settled to dinner and quiet conversation. I'm sure Bergil would have let him say goodbye if he'd insisted. It is possible you will see the resolution to the cliffhanger in the next chapter to be posted (notice I did not say the *next* chapter, which has already been posted, even as you were writing the review of *this* chapter, I think...). It all depends on whether the chapter in rough draft remains intact or splits itself in the editing because it goes too long. I try not to post anything over 2,000 words as it makes future editing easier, if needed. Thanks for commenting! | |