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| Just Desserts by Lindelea | 203 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/5/2005 |
| OK - maybe he wouldn't have been working as a messenger in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is Haldoron! He's good at blaming himself. And, if those who knew of the wedding thought that Haldoron had disowned his son, maybe they would have kept it quiet. You never know - maybe marriage without parental consent in Gondor can be set aside, so Faelaseth wouldn't want to put herself forward and have her children made illegitimate. (Unlikely, but possible!) And I am thinking very good and encouraging thoughts about that exciting trip to Gondor. Author Reply: Hmmm. "Unlikely but possible." On such things hinges the plot of many a story. (I always have trouble figuring out the verb forms in such statements, do you?) Good old Haldoron. Being chief of the Rangers in Aragorn and Halbarad's absence must have been no picnic. Er, no piece of cake. Um, am thinking like a hobbit today, in terms of food. A good thing, when writing hobbits, I suppose. Another couple of stories in the works are "Tenth Walker" (Bill the Pony, in other words) and the one about Bilbo adopting Frodo. No dearth of material to work on. And Bandobras would really like his tale told, but it exists only as a plot summary at the moment and I keep telling him that he must simmer awhile longer on the back burner to develop flavour. But the next chapter of "Thain" is nearly ready to post, and the next two chapters of the Fell Winter story, so we'll just have to see. Thanks for the encouragement! I woke up this morning with absolutely no desire to write, and reading reviews rekindled my enthusiasm. | |
| Garnet Took | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/5/2005 |
| I don't know how I missed the posting of this last part. This was a very nice story. It was interesting to see what happened after Jack went over that waterfall. I could not believe how hard the Northern Steward had become. Yes, his life had been filled with losses, but to take what the hobbits had said and twist it the way he did was just dreadful. I hope he has truly learned better now. Of course, knowing that his family line lives on will probably help whether he realizes it, or not. Like I said, this has been a very interesting look into the way things were done in the Northern Kingdom on a day-to-day basis years after Aragorn became King. Thanks for another thrilling yarn. Author Reply: Well, I'm glad you found the last part anyhow! I really wanted Jack to pop up, out of the waterfall, unscathed, but figured that would not be realistic. Poor Jack. However, his injuries go a long way to explaining why Jack didn't just pick up and leave with the boys once he realised that Pippin and Diamond would be making regular visits to the Lake, along with the attendant danger of discovery. I think that the Steward learns an awful lot about the trustworthiness of hobbits on the journey to Gondor, actually. Part of his education will be overcoming Ferdi's distrust of Men! (As they say, "Turnabout is fair play.") You're welcome, and thanks for taking the time to comment. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/5/2005 |
| There is a lot of reader torture involved in this epilogue! Just how did poor Haldoron end up in the Houses of Healing tormenting himself about his worth again? What has Farry done to him? Still, at least Ferdi (MFH) has leanred the worth of (some) men - and is definitely on Haldoron's side. Which can only be a good thing. And I love the appearance of an unknown daughter-in-law with two delightful grandchildren to help Haldoron overcome his tendency to blame himself for all the world's troubles. Although Haldoron will probably start thinking, at any minute, that, if he hadn't been such a dogmatic grouch, his son would have brought his wife home, so wouldn't have been working as a messenger, so wouldn't have been in the way of that arrow, so would still be alive. So it's all Haldoron's fault. But maybe having Faelaseth around will counter this tendency to take all on his shoulders. And Baineth will definitely be good for him. Every old grouch needs a granddaughter. This has been an absolutely perfect story and I am so pleased that you wrote it. What a prize! I can't wait to see what you write next. On top, that is, of Thain and Fell Winter and anything else that is ongoing. Thank you for writing this. Now, how did Haldoron get hurt? Author Reply: Spot on except for one thing. The Steward's son likely would have been working as a messenger regardless, which is the main reason his father thought he should not marry until he achieved enough rank and status for a permanent posting. Haldoron, upright fellow that he was, wasn't about to pull strings to benefit his own son beyond what a "regular" guardsman would expect. I was hoping the sudden appearance unknown daughter-in-law would please and not fret. I worked at making the circumstances believable. I am still working out why Elessar didn't know, when he was alternating between North and South. Evidently it was a secret marriage, and a "sergeant" knew (perhaps he was the girl's father or something like that), but who else would have known? As to how Haldoron got hurt... well, as you know, Farry wanted to retrace the journey of the Fellowship... *g* But seriously, that story is outlined, and the first and last chapters are written. Typical beginning for a "Lindelea" story. Now if only the rest of the draft will cooperate and write itself nicely, and then as the first revision proceeds the story can begin posting. Think good thoughts. | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/4/2005 |
| *sigh, sniff* Epilogue? More a Prologue I should think ;) I'm looking forward to the new story :) :) MEWD!! Author Reply: Yes, the Epilogue is sort of tacked-on and doesn't really fit the story, but I put it in anyhow to show that Haldoron, eventually, does receive his just desserts. Thanks for the note of encouragement! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/4/2005 |
| Naturally I want to know the circumstances leading Halbaron to a bed in the Houses of Healing; seems that he and his beloved cousin do indeed share equal luck in trying to keep Hobbits safe. So very glad to find he has a family now to help fill the void left by a ruffian's arrow. Bless them all, the family now forming, and the love already beginning to grow. Love it, Lindelea. Author Reply: I just couldn't leave the poor man hanging, so to speak, about to head off into the Wilderland with hobbits, and who *knew* what might happen (especially with hobbits involved)? So I gave away part of the "Farry and Ferdi Go to Gondor" story, just for the Steward's sake... Thanks! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/4/2005 |
| Oh, yes! *Tease* us will you, with this lovely snippet! I see Ferdi's become cheekier than ever among Men. Maybe even cheekier than his cousin, if that's possible, but at least as cheeky *as*! I loved the way he just blew off all Haldoron's attempts to get rid of him. And I certainly *adore* Pippin's version of the journey from Bree on, as Aragorn's "failure"--and of course from Aragorn's POV, it really was, and yet it was all those "failures" that led to the ultimate successful outcome for the Good Guys. (You don't suppose that JRRT had a message in there for us somewhere do you?) I have just been adoring this whole story, and I can't begin to say how thrilled I am that Jack/Robin/Gwill and his family are now "hobbits" and have the freedom of the Shire. *satisfied sigh* Take That, Edict! Sorry to see this one end but looking greatly forward to more from you soon!! Thank you for sharing this lovely tale! Author Reply: Poor thing. I wanted to show that Haldoron wasn't alone in the world after all, but to do that required a certain amount of... spoiling, I guess you'd call it. Perhaps it's the tv mentality coming out, that "coming in the next episode" that you see in continuing shows. I used to be quite addicted to television. I have greatly appreciated your encouraging and thoughtful feedback along the way. Thanks! Author Reply: p.s. as to JRRT and messages to the reader... I keep thinking about how it is the small and weak who save the world in his story. It *is* an encouraging message, isn't it, that we don't have to do everything exactly right to have a good outcome in the end. Whew. Makes this frustrated perfectionist feel much better. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/4/2005 |
| Oh, what a perfect end to a great story Lindelea. Good old Ferdi! Author Reply: Thanks! (I'm rather fond of Ferdi, myself.) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 12/2/2005 |
| Ah--have been waiting for this one. Excellent indeed. And glad that Ferdi is realizing that perhaps the coming trip to Gondor isn't quite as awful an ordeal as he'd envisioned! And so glad to see the other baby born! Little Gwesthiel sounds lovely! Author Reply: Ah, yes, the trip to Gondor oughtn't to be an awful ordeal. But of course when a teen is in charge (in more ways than one), interesting things can happen. (And Farry, unfortunately, probably will outrank everyone else on the trip...) Thank you! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 12/2/2005 |
| Am catching up. Yes, MOST appropriate consequences, and certainly as fine a set of consequences as possible. After all, these are Hobbits by adoption now, and have had a positive impact on the Shire since before Pippin's birth, even, in the case of Gwillam! Lovely, lovely, lovely! Author Reply: I really think that Gwill would have retired in the Shire, when he became too old to wander, if the King's edict had not stood in his way. Now it is so lovely, that things have been changed around to allow him to spend as much time there as he wishes. (Of course, he is a granfather now, and probably wouldn't remove to the Shire entirely.) Thanks for the encouraging words! | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 12/1/2005 |
| Bravo! Bravo! Happiness and joy abounding with Hobbits and Men together again. *sigh* A wonderful sight in my mind's eye. Thank you :) Author Reply: You're welcome, and thank *you* for coming along for the ride and dropping me notes of cheer along the way. | |