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Consequences of a Fall by Dreamflower	227 Review(s)
PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/12/2006
sniff, sniff Destiny!! Yes! Gotta love it! :-) I loved your references to Pippin's destiny in life, and that Hyacinth just wasted her life in trying to snuff his out. All for the sake of self-promotion. What a sad life. You know, for all of the times I just wanted to slap her silly (not really--I'm not violent!), I was just as pleased to read in this chapter that she finally did see her own folly. I wish that she reached out to Pippin and her daughters, but this is your tale, and trust me, I have enjoyed every word of it. :-) Thank you so much for sharing it! Pippinfan Author Reply: I don't think Hyacinth will ever be the "reaching out" sort. But at least now she can aim her regrets at her own self, and not at Pippin. Some people go the steps further needed to find redemption. Some, like Lobelia, find it when it is almost too late. Some, like Denethor reject it out of hand. And some never find it at all--they can feel sorry for not succeeding in getting what they wanted, but until they are capable of feeling sorry for the pain they've given to others, they will never go the last little bit needed for true repentance. It's hard to say what category Hyacinth will end up in at the last.

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/12/2006
"Hating me, you know, got you nowhere. I was not about to die to oblige you." His voice was light, not angry at all . . . Did he have any idea? He had something, something special about him--how could she never have realized it all these years? He was meant to be Thain. She had wasted her life. And--she felt suddenly sick--it was her own fault." Wonderful, wonderful ending!! So fitting that she didn't care at all for what her daughters were doing or how they were fairing. Hyacinth is the epitome of "It's all about Me!" MEWD, my dear, MEWD!! Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked the ending. Hyacinth is now going to have to stew in her own juice. I don't know that this moment of revelation will make her any nicer, but at least she now knows that she can't blame Pippin for all her woes any more.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/12/2006
Wow what an ending Dreamflower! This is definitely a story on my favourites to re-read list. Good for Reggie. Separated and with responsibility for the girls - a much better scenario. I actually feel sorry for Hyacinth but it is her own bed that she has made and she must lay in it! Author Reply: Oh my! I am glad that you like this enough to want to re-read it! Reggie's life from here on out is going to be much nicer, as are the lives of the "Jewelry". Opal, especially, has got a lot going for her now, in spite of her disability. Yes, she's definitely having to lie in her own bed of nails.

Elemmírë	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/11/2006
I liked how the sub-story featuring Hyacinth tied in with the other events you've written about. It sums eveything up nicely and I enjoyed the entire tale. I'm glad you posted it here for all to read. They chose their father over me. They may see me here or not at all. As for Opal, she brought her troubles on herself, and it is on her account that I find myself in this situation. I have no wish to see her at all." Poor Hyacinth ... her character sounds even more odious than Lobelia's. That hobbitess has not one ounce of sympathy in her. At least Lobelia had sympathy toward the destruction going on around her and her son's final plight, enough to be her saving grace in the end. Hyacinth, on the other hand, showed nothing but pure selfishness, thinking only of herself and of no others, or how her selfish actions would affect those around her. It's ironic in the end, when she realizes that it was her own selfishness that deprived her in the end. She had wasted her life. And--she felt suddenly sick--it was her own fault. As much I as dislike Hyacinth, you showed excellent character development with her (as you did with all the characters in the story). I do pity her. Nicely done, Dreamflower! Author Reply: Yes, I think Hyacinth is quite the most awful hobbit I've ever written. She actually contemplated doing with her own hands something no hobbit of the Shire has ever done--even Lotho and Sandyman used Men for the worst of their dirty work! And the thing is, when I first started with her, I had no idea of how dreadful she was--she just began to slowly reveal her character to me, and I was both appalled and fascinated. Of course her fate had already been decided, which is why the "flash-forwards"--she spent several more years getting away with more petty sorts of selfishness, before it all crumbled in on her. At the last, at least she finally realizes that Pippin is not to blame for all her troubles, though I don't think it will make a good deal of change in her actual behavior.

AspenJules	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/11/2006
Great job, Dream!!! Oh, I loved the ending in the epilogue! I do have one question though that I'll get out of the way before going on (or else I might forget it, LOL) - what is the time frame between the epilogue and the events in "A New Reckoning"? I know it's during the time frame of "Road to Edoras." OH - and a second question - any hope of progress on "Road" ? I am loving that story and hoping that inspiration will strike and you'll be posting more of it soon? Ok - on to "Consequences" comments. I have been suffering a bad case of Southwest Summer doldrums so I apologize for not reviewing much lately, but I have definitely been enjoying the story. I also, as others commented, loved Merry's little emotional growth spurt, coming to pity Amethyst and understand her better. I can only imagine how shocked he would have felt to hear a mother talk to her own child that way, considering the 2 mothers he would have to compare her too. It had to have been almost incomprehensible to him that, even as horrible a person as Hyacinth is, she could be capable of treating her daughters so badly. That's the kind of revelation that changes a child's world forever, and it certainly opened Merry's eyes to understand how and why the Jewels were the way they were. Pippin in the Epilogue was truly magnificent... all the promise of his early years of sensitivity, compassion and kindness forged by the Year of the Quest into what showed there. Able to show compassion and pity in the face of unreasoning, unrelenting hatred and malice. He had seen what such emotions come to, in Wormtongue, in the orcs, in Denethor and ultimately in all the suffering inflicted by Sauron himself, and saw what end it ultimately led all those who embraced it to... miserable ignominious endings. However, he also saw the pain it could inflict in the meantime, and understood that it couldn't be tolerated or condoned, thus tempering his willingness to forgive with understanding the need for irrevocable consequences. He truly was meant to be Thain. Brilliantly rendered, Dream... absolutely brilliant. And finally Hyacinth herself. What a devastating final line! I don't know about anyone else but I have had that feeling from time to time, to a much lesser degree, thank heavens, but that sick feeling of coming to understand how royally you've messed up on something. It makes me realize that I can join Pippin in feeling at least a little pity for her. Hopefully it will prompt her into changing her decision about the girls, though I'm afraid the feeling of realization will pass and she will slip back into her rut of hatred, anger and blame. Those are very hard habits to break after having them for so many years. A sober warning for all of us, I think. Well, this is a novel in itself but I just had to share some of the thoughts you've inspired. Words fail to express it sufficiently, so I'll just finish with Thanks for sharing, Dream. You are, as always, truly delightful. Author Reply: As to the time frame, the "flash-forwards" take place a few months after "A New Reckoning" and before "It Takes a Took"--right after "Tribute" I should think. This would put it in the very early fall, just before Pippin broke his leg in "It Takes a Took". The main part of the story, however, takes place in the summer of 1402, 16 years before the Quest. It was a revelation to Merry, to see a mother behaving so. It's definitely not the hobbit way, to abuse children like that (and I think of it as emotional abuse) and it would have shocked and appalled him. Merry is not one of nature's natural forgivers, the way Frodo and Pippin are, but he is a hobbit and Pity is a racial trait of hobbits, according to Gandalf. I'm so glad you could see what I was trying to show here with Pippin. He is still not of age, yet his family can tell that he is serious enough, responsible enough, to be entrusted with an errand like this. And he has seen, as you say, what malice can do--and like Frodo, he has a forgiving nature, as long as the offense is only against himself. I hope that the little Pippin I showed in the story foreshadowed somewhat, the Pippin he grew to be--magnanimous, generous, great-hearted, and yet tempered with a sense of justice as well. With the examples of Frodo and of Aragorn and of his Merry, he knows what is right, what has to be done. You are right. She knows she messed up, and there is nothing now to be done about it. No way to go back in time and correct her mistakes--she's having to live with the consequences. I too, think she will still be bitter and angry. She will probably transfer a lot of her resentment to her husband and daughters. But I think she will no longer blame Pippin. I am so very glad you have enjoyed this. It was a very interesting story to write. As to "Road to Edoras" I have been plugging away at it. My problem has been that my muse kept wanting to write the ending when I had not finished with the middle. So I've been writing "back to front" so to speak. I've made a good deal of progress, and once I fill in a few gaps, to bring me back to where I left off, I will be able to start posting once more. I feel horrible about it, for I have never posted a story with such a long hiatus before. But rest assured it is neither forgotten nor abandoned!

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/11/2006
What a terrible revelation for Hyacinth - she has wasted her life - and now she knows it and will have to live with that. Even Pippin feels sorry for her, and in that he is very much like Frodo. As for Reggie, at least now he'll have some peace. The daughters can't be all bad if they've chosen to stay with him, and I hope he's much happier. Poor Euphorbia should get some of that money as compensation for having to put up with her for the foreseeable future. I'm with some of your other reviewers - she would make a delicious snack for a passing troll or a small troop of orcs........... Great story and full or your wonderful characterisations, Dreamflower. Author Reply: Yes, she is going to have to live with that--knowing that all along her scheming meant nothing. I am not sure how much good it will actually do her towards changing her ways, but I think that at least she will cease blaming all her troubles on Pippin, anyway. (Which is not to say she won't blame others besides him--old habits die hard.) Reggie will indeed now have a more peaceful life. Opal, of course, is recovering from her accident and will one day become a healer. I've not yet mapped out all of Amethyst's and Garnet's futures--but out of their mother's baleful influence, and under Eglantine's and Pearl's wings, they are beginning to slough off a lot of very bad attitudes and habits. And they have seen that their father really loves them, because of the way he defied Hyacinth for Opal's sake. I'm really going to have to give that little AU some thought--poor Orc or troll... Thanks so much for R&R-ing!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/11/2006
He had something, something special about him--how could she never have realized it all these years? He was meant to be Thain. She had wasted her life. And--she felt suddenly sick--it was her own fault. And finally Hyacinth understands that she never ever had a chance - far too late! Her life is indeed wasted. That is really sad and I can truly understand Pippin's reaction, which is much like Frodo would have reacted. Well, in Germany we have a saying: Einsicht ist der erste Schritt zur Besserung! Directly translated this would be: Comprehension is the first step to improvement! Maybe it's not too late for Hyacinth after all. You know, I really pity her now, despite what she nearly did. Great story, Dreamflower. I'm looking forward to reading more! Author Reply: Yes, she understands too late. Pippin takes after Frodo a lot in that regard, something I often try to show in my stories. I do not know if she will have enough courage to improve herself; certainly Reggie and her daughters will never trust her again. But I think she at least will cease to blame Pippin. I am so glad that you enjoyed this!!

lovethosehobbits	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/11/2006
This was truly, a great story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Author Reply: Thank you for reading and for letting me know you liked it! I enjoyed writing it, and am glad that you enjoyed reading it!

SurgicalSteel	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/11/2006
applauds Perfect ending to a great story. I enjoyed this! Something about people realizing the error of their ways is always interesting to read. Author Reply: Yes, she's realized her errors. I don't know if she has the will to do anything about it, but at least she knows she screwed up.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/11/2006
My, Hyacinth's a nasty piece of work - but, if she's understanding - really understanding - that it's all her own fault, maybe there is some chance that she will improve. Not much, of course, because she's still being a total ... unpleasant person ... about her daughters. Now, I can forgive her finding Reggie a pain - these things happen. I can forgive her feeling that Pippin is an inconvenient addition to the family (although not for trying to polish him off). But I find it almost impossible to forgive her for rejecting her children and turning her back on them so contemptuously. At least her brother gets five silver pennies to reward him for the pain of having to look after her. (If I were him, I would give at least three of them to Euphorbia to sweeten the trial of having to spend most of her life in Hyacinth's company.) She has wasted her life so far - and I don't really think matters are likely to improve. Although you never know. She still might provide some necessary nutrition for a passing troll. Author Reply: She is still a nasty piece of work, I'm afraid, but she does at least understand one thing: Pippin is not to blame for all her troubles--and for her that's a major concession. As far as her children go, she's always been a selfish mother, spoiling them and giving them their way when it suited her to use them to show herself as being "motherly", and rejecting them and taking her anger out on them when they failed to advance her own agenda. I've seen parents like that. They use their children as status symbols, and only punish them if their bad behavior causes trouble for the parents. It's a very sad state of affairs when it happens. Yes, brother and Euphorbia are going to have a lot to put up with. I think that is why Reggie was so generous--he knew what they would be going through! No, sad to say, I don't think she will even do a "Lobelia" and turn her life around at the end. But she might be a bit more subdued and easier to live with for a little while. I will definitely have to give some thought to writing you that AU...

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