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No Greater Love, Part Two: Repercussions  by MJ 108 Review(s)
curiouswombatReviewed Chapter: 21 on 10/26/2015
How good to see another chapter awaiting me when I got home this evening. Thank you.

I look forward to finding out what lessons are to be learnt; but in the meantime I am very much enjoying the conversations so far and look forward to the one between Pippin and Olorin.


shireboundReviewed Chapter: 21 on 10/26/2015
Oh, what a lovely reunion this is going to be! I hope Olorin can tell Pippin all about the hobbits in the West, and in what esteem and affection they're held by the Powers.

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 20 on 9/24/2015
It DOES sound as though Manwe is learning a lot more about what it is to be Mortal. This is at the heart of the Christian story, of course ... the God who becomes Mortal in order to better understand and help his children! I do not do so well trying to keep up with longer stories. (Out of a hopeless attempt to spend more time in Real Life, sigh!) At any rate, I did join this one when two not-quite-Hobbits took shelter in the ruin of an inn and fought a band of brigand Men. Your "Captain" took me totally by surprise. He joins the little group and starts giving orders right away, and everyone just naturally follows them. At first I thought he was a Chief Shirrif. Perhaps Lotho's use of the term during the war caused them to choose a different name for their leaders afterward? But then I remembered that Fatty Bolger had been the leader of a band of Hobbit guerilla fighters during the War, so maybe it was him? Then someone compared rotten thatch to being under a dead troll. When the Captain confidently replied that rotten thatch smelled better, I knew. And who better than Gandalf's beloved "Fool of a Took" to sense Olorin's true identity! Now I really must finish this story!

Author Reply: And I must finish it, too — though from the writing end! :) I had honestly thought that using the word "captain" would be a dead giveaway as to Pippin's identity (or at the very least would point directly to him or Merry), but I guess it wasn't! I used the term because of a line from the chapter "The Scouring of the Shire": "but at the top of the Roll in all accounts stand the names of Captains Meriadoc and Peregrin." Also, oddly enough, I've had an idea for another story concerning Manwë and the heart of the Christian message for several years, now, but I've been very hesitant to write it, since my gut tells me that it might not be very well received (not because it's negative or blasphemous, but because... well, I'm not exactly sure why, lol). Perhaps someday I'll write it — but must finish this first!

Thanks ever so much for reading and commenting. I do know the trials and tribulations of Real Life, so I'm glad you took the time!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 20 on 9/18/2015
Aha! Just what I'd hoped for, really. Pippin, after all, is no fool, after all, in spite of having been called that so many times by Gandalf! And they brought Bilbo's favorite walking stick with them? Heh! Delightful!

Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed it! Although Gandalf may have started out meaning it when he called Pippin a fool of a Took, I always had the feeling that by the end of the war (especially after that long ride to Minas Tirith), it became more a private term of endearment between them.

FantasiaReviewed Chapter: 20 on 9/16/2015
Wonderful, Pippin in the picture!...he has matured for sure, but 7 years is not that much (I was expeting that more time has passed)...It is good for Manwë to live some mortal experiences...his realization about mortal faith is very good, because mortals don't really know, they have just faith...

Of all the possible Gandalf's encounters, I alwasy wanted one with Faramir, I mean, Faramir book...but Pippin is my second choice.


Author Reply: Second choice is just fine! :) Since I've been working on this for much too long a time, I had to go back and check my timeline against the timeline of LotR and the years after.... But considering all that Pippin experienced during the war, and the fact that this is less than a year before he marries Diamond, I figure that perhaps he matured a little faster than many of the other hobbits might have by the same age. And yes, I think that Manwë has perhaps been a little too detached from the Mortal experience. Time for him to get off his high mountain and experience life as the Children do, and learn from it,

Thanks for reviewing!

UTfrogReviewed Chapter: 20 on 9/14/2015
Wonderful! I had not realized Pippin was the captain. He does have a great opportunity to have many questions answered. How great a reunion is ahead. Thank you.

Author Reply: You're quite welcome! And it delights me to know that at least one person didn't see it coming, about Pippin. I'd been afraid I was a mite too heavy-handed somewhere, and I did so want it to be at least a bit of a surprise reveal. So nice to know it worked! Thanks for reviewing. :)

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 20 on 9/13/2015
Merry and Pippin!!! Oh my goodness, how wonderful!

someone holding a lantern shifted it, so that for a moment, the light shone more brightly on the walking stick — and revealed the old, inexpert carving of his name in the well-worn wood.

Ooooh, this is AWESOME. And I truly love this:

This was a large part of what it meant to be a true Incarnate, and to be Mortal: not knowing what would come from one moment to the next, never certain of anything, yet carrying on in spite of it.

Author Reply: Well, just Pippin (at least for now, I still haven't quite decided if there will be others showing up ;D). But I'm so glad you enjoyed the surprise. My best friend's favorite is Pippin, and while I thought my Muse was a bit crazy for introducing this twist, I rather hoped she wouldn't be the only person to be pleased by it. Wonderful to see that she's not alone. I also think that the constant uncertainty of Mortal life is something many of the Ainur just wouldn't get until and unless they experienced it first-hand. To carry on without certainty and without proofs is in the end the ultimate expression of estel.

Thanks for you kind words!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 19 on 8/26/2015
Obviously the Men are far from the brightest bulbs in the package or the string, and the poor boob deserved what he got, although Olorin does not. Now, to see what the Thain thinks of his two soon-to-be acquaintances. Although he may find the one rather reminiscent of distant friends....

Author Reply: Bullies seldom are terribly bright, aren't they? The Thain, alas, may not meet our disguised visitors (this being a mere five years or so since Frodo et al Sailed), but there may be other... interesting encounters in their future. Thanks for the review!

curiouswombatReviewed Chapter: 19 on 8/26/2015
Oh my goodness! Now that is quite a cliff-hanger :)

Author Reply: Thanks, I aim to please! ;) And if my muse cooperates, the hang hopefully won't be too long.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 19 on 8/26/2015
Glad to see you are writing again! I hope it helps you feel better. I have enjoyed this story for quite a long time now, and it's very comforting to see it being updated. Life goes on, but some things remain.

It's fun to see Manwe and Olorin as hobbits. A bit of role reversal, a bit of excitement, definitely an education, and a well-deserved break. I'm sure this won't be a big part of the story, but helping Manwe to see the larger picture will be good for him.

Author Reply: Thanks! Sometimes, I think Manwë has a bit more trouble seeing certain details that are naturally beyond his experience — he sees the forest just fine, and the trees, but the leaves on the trees? Well, everyone has blind spots. But he'll learn, he'll learn. Glad you're enjoying the ride! :)

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