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| All That Glisters by Lindelea | 429 Review(s) |
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| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 72 on 1/17/2005 |
| I totally forgot to ask about Merileth. She was mentioned briefly in the last chapter, and at the time I wondered where the healers and their apprentices had come from. The city is new, the houses of healing are new, so did everyone move north from Gondor, or was the city populated by the Dunedain of the north, or something else random? I just thought it would have been ironic for Denny to end up finding his true-love in a far-away city if she had been under his nose for years in the southlands. Author Reply: The New City was populated from different places: Gondor, Breeland, Dale, the Dunedain. Merileth's name implies that she is either of the Dunedain or Gondor, I think. If of Gondor, she might have been one of a family who moved to the North-land after plans were announced to re-build the City. The "greengrocer" being used as a point of reference implies that he was one of the earliest to set up in the marketplace, at least to my thinking. Either that or he has one of the larger facilities, but to have that, again I think he'd have to be an early settler. He probably early established relations with local Men who had arrived to farm the surrounding land, to sell their produce for a fee, leaving them free on market days to continue to work at their farming. (A farmer's work is never done.) It would be ironic if Merileth was under Denethor's nose all this time, but I don't think it likely. I think he caught her attention on a visit to the marketplace with the hobbits. The irony in my mind is the "small world" aspect of the story. The greengrocer has three daughters. The eldest married Denethor, the middle married Will, and the youngest married the armourer. So for a time, before Denethor was "invalided out", a guardsman and a fugitive from justice (at least Will and Jack thought so) were brothers-in-law. Can you imagine the dancing around certain subjects to avoid exciting suspicion on the part of their friends and relations, and the elabourately casual plans they had to lay to avoid meeting the hobbits on their visits to the Lake? I think Seledrith must have suspected something. Perhaps Jack allayed her suspicion with an excuse that Will was mortally afraid of Halflings due to an incident in his early years, or some such thing. That would make her a co-conspirator in Jack's getting Will out of the shop when hobbits were due on their regular shopping day. Author Reply: p.s. another possibility is that Merileth's family came from one of the seacoasts in the Southlands. Her name has something to do with the sea, I forget exactly what. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 72 on 1/17/2005 |
| This is a lovely ending to the story. Diamond is a perceptive hobbit, and you can't get much past her. I loved the little glimpse of Jack settled and well-loved, and his boys happy having found their own place. Sometimes good is its own reward, and I think Jack has found his (but a bag or two of gold probably wouldn't go amiss.) A happy ending for all! Author Reply: Yes, I was writing towards this ending for chapter upon chapter, and sometimes it seemed as if I never *would* get there. Whew. I did love the picture of Jack napping with the baby named for Rob. I can just see the baby fussing a little, and Jack, without really awakening, rocking the cradle with his foot to settle things down a little longer. And when he wakens, won't Will have good news to share with him! Thanks! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 1/16/2005 |
| Ah, *sigh*, it's over. Oh dear! But the nice thing about skipping all those years to put in an epilogue (during which you fit in several of your other wonderful stories) is that you now have a nice long gap (only *partially* filled! *hint hint* But when it comes to Lindelea stories, I'm insatiable. Author Reply: Words to bring a smile even to the Muse, sulking in the corner and refusing to whisper. Says she has laryngitis and is taking the weekend off. Such is life. Amazing how those gaps beg to be filled, isn't it? But of course, you do such a marvellous job of gap-filling yourself! Thanks! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 72 on 1/16/2005 |
| Just brilliant! Loved the way Diamond breezed though all of it with no one the wiser and yet, managed to make her point known to Will. All of this has been lovley and I find that my favorite of your original characters is now Denethor with Posey a very close second. Denethor is such a great character and has such a way with the hobbits. Now, I fear you must write something else, maybe more chapters of Thain? LOL I am planning to start "Rope" again in a few days when time allows so you will be hearing from me again. You have been warned. LOL Great story! Author Reply: Ah, thank you! So much of the story was written towards this Epilogue, which was one of the first chapters written after Jack and the boys escaped the Shire. I do look forward to hearing from you again! When you do read "Rope", see if you can spot Hilly. He's not named, but he's definitely there. Thanks! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 1/16/2005 |
| I just love that Rose and Sam's Bilbo was born on Bilbo and Frodo's birthday. Such a lovely touch to this already wonderful story. So glad that this comes down on a happy note at the bridge. You can feel the bitter-sweetness of it all in Merry's responses and see how much he misses Frodo still. | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 1/16/2005 |
| I found Pippin's regret at knowing the man would meet his death very well done. You could feel that he was hardened by what might have happened to the children if they had not been rescued in time, but you could also feel that he was not ready to have this man hang. I was glad that he got the chance to voice his opinion, though I am quite sure that even if he were not offered such a chance, being Pippin, he would have offered it anyway. Interesting how the prisoner is his own defense in this and has no one to plead his case, though others were offered the chance to do so. Author Reply: I almost feel sorry for the prisoner, though he was a bad man, fully knowing what his partner intended, even as he tried to dismiss it. Belated thanks for your review! Would you believe that I didn't see it before today? Once in awhile SoA doesn't send me reviews, or else my ISP bounces them, or something. Happened just recently with "Healer's Tale", as a matter of fact. | |
| Connie B. | Reviewed Chapter: 72 on 1/16/2005 |
| That was a sweet ending. I was kind of surprised that Pippin never did see jack again. Will's poor wife probably never did figure out what exactly happened that day.:) This was a very nice story. I look forward to seeing where your new one is going, and I would love to see updates to your Thain story. Thanks again. Connie B. Author Reply: You're welcome! Modified slightly to reflect a slightly later meeting between Jack, Will, and Pippin (and possibly Elessar, though they'd keep things quiet, not wanting to arouse speculation about Men getting into the Shire and getting away with it.) Thanks! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 1/15/2005 |
| Very well done! And this is one ruffian who did not deserve a reprieve, even though I'm sure hobbits would have given him one anyway. I'm glad Pippin knew better than to try. I like that you make note of the fact that the hanging was not a public spectacle, but a grim affair. Fireworks for The Birthday! And little Bilbo! You know, for some reason that's one of Sam's and Rose's young ones that I tend to forget. How lovely that he was born on The Birthday! Loose ends: well, aside from Jack and the boys, how about Denny's lass? And I'd like to see a bit more of Elladan and Elrohir before everyone breaks up--not necessarily a "loose end" as much as they played an important part, and deserve to be in the denouement. Uh, what are they going to do about the temptations the Thain's gold is posing to renegade men? I know the hanging is meant as a deterrent, but perhaps a little something more? Increased patrols or something... I hate to see this one come to an end. I always enjoy stories that let Aragorn interact with the hobbits Fourth Age. I could probably come up with some more stuff just to get you to keep going, LOL! And Denny is remaining in the North, hmm? Neat! Author Reply: Well, Denny is remaining in the North at least until the King comes back. He might be hoping to regain his strength and health enough to rejoin the elite bodyguard, and yet he might be hoping to stay in the North with that lass. Hmm. Ummm, I'd assume increased patrols, though it probably isn't necessary to say as much. If you look at "Where the Merlin Cries" there are regular patrols of King's Men on the borders of the Shire, that the kidnapping ruffians have to evade. If you do come up with more stuff, do let me know! I have some irons in the fire but am not sure what will come up after they've been dealt with. (And you write satisfying Fourth Age stuff yourself! Take a bow!) I wrote another draft today while someone else had the computer, a sort of sequel to "Runaway". My editor friend is going over "Thain" again to come up with a list of suggestions to get started on that story again. And there's young Rosemary and Ferdi's story still bubbling away on the back burner. And then there's Woodruff's story, which seems to be taking shape. And just so many hours in the day... | |
| Mysterious Jedi | Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 1/15/2005 |
| I thought Tolman was the only one sharing Frodo's birthday (hate to be nitpicky, but At the End of his Rope was one of my favs). This is excellent! I think you're writing is starting to rub off on me, I've been reading it so much, though stuff I write is much shorter and not nearly so profoundly interesting. Author Reply: Yes, I'd thought of Tolman's birth and made a note that some revising might be needed in "Rope", but I certainly appreciate your reminder, for it would have been an easy detail to overlook! Thank you for the encouraging words. Hope to see you around in other stories! (And will be looking for yours, when the "reading urge" hits.) | |
| Connie B. | Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 1/15/2005 |
| That was hard to read; the hanging part at least. That was an interesting cover story Aragorn and Pippin had for their absence. The fireworks were a nice touch. So was little Bilbo being born on the same date and in the same room as his namesake. No loose ends other than Jack, and his possible reward, come to mind. Thanks for a great story. Connie B. Author Reply: You're welcome. I hesitated to write the hanging; it was labelled "background" and almost excised from the chapter (leaving a bare mention) but I thought it important to show Pippin's fortitude and his dedication to do his duty, no matter how painful or distressing or distasteful. Glad to hear you didn't notice any loose ends. Jack and his possible reward will be dealt with in the Epilogue, coming next if all goes well. Thanks for the faithful reviews. You have heartened me when the dark has descended, quite heavily in recent times, and I do appreciate your taking the time to write even in the midst of your own dark times. Hope your friend is doing much, *much* better. Will keep her in our prayers. | |