yelena
· 27 May 2005
· Chapter 47: Insult and Injury
WOW!!! As it is well past midnight, I have to wait until tomorrow to finish this story, but its sheer masterfullness (no, i don't think that is a real word) has captivated and enthralled me for the past several hours. I am truly enjoying this story!
Author's reply
I just came across your review when I had gone back to check a detail in this chapter for the other story I am working on. I am so glad you were enjoying it and I apologize for not seeing it sooner!
yelena
· 27 May 2005
· Chapter 26: Invitations Tendered
As I am in the middle of a thoroghly engrossing tale, I must make this breif.
After reading "the dare", I decided to read this story-just to see what Merry does to the bankses-and I am enjoying it a whole lot. I liked especially in this chapter bit about Aragorn's and Arwen's distant geneological relation. You are fast becoming my favorite author in this whole archive!
amippin
· 4 January 2005
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
awwwwwwwwe i cant belive i finished it :( i want it to just keep on going
wonderful story, plan to read alot of your others now :D i see none of them are quite this long tho :( lol
longcleeve
· 1 January 2005
· Chapter 49: The Morning After
i just have to say again how much im loving the length of this! and the story of course too! lol :D i love all the hobbit issues heheh
Author's reply
Yes, well, *grin* "A New Reckoning" just kept growing--and growing--and growing. I'd originally planned it to be about 20 to 25 chapters. Didn't work. Ah, well, a lot of people seem to like it this way. 8-D
longcleeve
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 3: An Important Date
oh im enjoying this story so far! i really love when stories are longer like this one...makes em last :) cant wait to read more
Author's reply
I am glad to see you enjoy it! LOL! I never had intended the story to be quite that long, but it just kind of grew on me. I hope that you enjoy it all.
Thanks for letting me know!
Pipwise Brandygin
· 15 October 2004
· Chapter 30: An Evening with Friends
Oh, this is such a wonderful scene! I love the image of all of them singing their songs of far and wide in a Shire tavern, and that everyone was enjoying themselves so much after the initial awkwardness. I especially loved Artamir's song and all the "liberties" he took with the story! What a great idea! I'm so impressed also with Danulf's song. One of my stories is calling for a song or two, but I'm hopeless with them so I figured I'd avoid it - but yours is wonderful! And the end of this scene is perfect - I imagine them thinking about moments like this when they're on the Quest, and it's lovely to see them back home and up there on the table again. :)
Author's reply
I am glad you are enjoying "A New Reckoning". This is one of my favorite chapters also. I love to see songs in fic. If you don't feel you can write your own, then how about lifting one from The Hobbit or The Tolkien Reader. You can't go wrong with JRRT, and the idea is that Bilbo wrote all those songs anyway. Or you can do another thing I did in Life of a Bard: go to http://www.contemplator.com/folk.html wbere they have oodles and kaboodles of folk songs you can adapt, sometimes only needing to change two or three words to make them fit into Middle Earth. Nursery rhymes can also be adapted, and they sound nice and hobbity. And don't shy away from trying your own, either. I didn't think I could till I tried it! 8-D
Anso the Hobbit
· 18 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
You know, I do love this story and I have to apologize for not reviewing more often. It has been my intention to do so. I have enjoyed every chapter thoroughly and you write very well. I love your hobbits and how you describe them and their lives, every little detail. Please write another looong story about them again :) Perhaps a sequel when Freddy and his gang has come home and Merry and Pippin are married and settled down?
Thank you so much for this wonderful, loving, enjoyable story!
Hugs
Anso
Author's reply
Thanks for the nice review. I have enjoyed all the ones I have had from you. I am planning a sequel, but am getting a few shorter stories out of the way first. I just started posting a pre-Quest story, and Marigold and I are also co-authoring a story we thought up while we evacuated from Hurricane Ivan. But I have been doing some work on the sequel already.
I am so glad that you enjoyed "A New Reckoning".
Hai Took
· 14 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
Oh! That was such a great story! I am a bit disappointed that it is over though! I want to see more!
Poor Freddy! Leaving behind his family was hard I'm sure and then crossing the bridge. He did an admirable job! He is going to be a good leader for these traveling hobbits! I like the way he spoke with Berilac, very well done!
the bit between Frodo and Legolas was very sad! Poor Frodo, not wanting to admit that the Shire may not be his home anymore must be hard, especially after all he went through, so unfair!
Bergil saying farewell to Pippin was sweet! They certainly had a good time together! Maybe they will meet again some day?
Wonderful story! Thank you for all the time and such you have put into it! It has been great!
Author's reply
Well, I will have a sequel, but it is not going to be too soon. I want to get a few shorter stories out of the way first.
Freddy and Berilac have a lot of work cut out for them. But I am confident they are up to it.
I think of all the Fellowship, Legolas really understands about Frodo. My take is that Arwen's jewel helps to ease his sorrows by reminding him that he has a place across the sea--which gives him something like the sea-longing. Legolas recognizes this.
I've no doubt they will, though not how soon. They will miss one another.
I have enjoyed all your reviews; they are always so detailed and enthusiatic, that it just makes me feel good! I'm glad that you enjoyed the story, and thank you for sticking with it through all those chapters!
pipspebble
· 9 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
*great big satisfied sigh* Well! I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon after a hard day's work...no, that's not my line - and I DO do a hard day's work every day of my life, and it's fics like this that make it a lot easier to get through the day. It was quite a treat to get updates every other day or so. NOW what are we going to do without it??? :-( Beautifully done, in case I haven't said so before. But, then, it's YOU! Of course, it was beautifully done! Thank you for this wonderfully satisfying look at what came after.
Author's reply
Thank you for taking the time to let me know how you enjoyed the story. Reviews like yours are what made it possible to keep going, even with interruptions, and even when it was clear that the story was going to be more than three times longer than I intended.
FantasyFan
· 9 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
A very satisfying conclusion to a good long tale. Of course, it begs for a sequel: the adventures of Freddy and his hobbit band on the way to Gondor would be a story in itself, and there's another in their dealings with the king when they get to Minas Tirith. I'd be happy to see either of them from your pen.
Author's reply
The journey to Edoras is in the planning stages, but it is not nearly ready to begin posting. I've a few smaller plot bunnies clamoring for attention first. I'm so glad that you have enjoyed "Reckoning", thank you for all your kind reviews.
Kitty
· 9 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
*sniff* The last chapter! And I must admit, after all the good-byes I'm sitting here in tears. Especially the scene between Frodo and Legolas ... I found it always so sad they haven't meet again. Probably Frodo is not longer alive when Legolas arrives in Valinor. Somehow I would prefer the Hobbits and Gimli in Valinor immortal ...
Anyway, I am glad Freddy is with the group - it will distract him from his sorrow, and I am sure, the new experiences are good and interesting for him, maybe for him most of all, because he is so intelligent and open-minded. The bridge was a good beginning. Rosamunda will not recognize her son after a year in Gondor. And Poppy will probably learn much from Aragorn and maybe on the way a bit from Elrond if they stop in Imladris.
Thank you for this story - I look forward to more from you! Not only the sequel ;-)
Ah, I'm recently re-reading the whole story and have found a little discrepancy. In chapter 8 Merry is told his new Pony Pybba is sired by his Stybba; in chapter 24 Pybba is the brother of Stybba. Of course it is not important, but I am quite fond of horses and have a Iceland Pony myself, so I was probably a bit more interested in the ponys and noticed it.
Author's reply
I know, it is sad, isn't it? But JRRT told us that Valinor is part of Arda, and not heaven; mortals can't live forever. I like to think that Bilbo, Frodo and Sam lasted a good long while though.
Freddy's intelligence and open-mindedness are part of what made the three worthies choose him as leader of the delegation. And Poppy is going to learn a great deal--but perhaps some of those great healers will also learn a few things from her, as well.
My goodness! I am so flattered that you are re-reading this monster! I went right away and have fixed that little problem, so it is there no longer! Thank you for noticing it and bringing it to my attention!
And thank you for your lovely reviews!
Bodkin
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
Lovely story. Shame it's finished - but - now it's time for New Reckoning II: The Gondor Years. (I hope.)
I hate goodbyes - it's all very well when they go home or off to visit, but it's like Frodo knowing he will never see Legolas again - sad. Bergil will be grown up, Merry married - everything changes. All the 'you can't pass over the same river twice' stuff.
Look forward to more stories.
Author's reply
Well, they have to *get* to Gondor first--and deliver three of those prisoners to Eomer! So guess where the sequel will start.
You are right, things are going to be different, just as the Travellers returned to a Shire that had changed. But if all stayed the same, there would be no stories ever.
Thank you for your faithful and thoughtful reviews, they have meant a lot to me.
Grey Wonderer
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
*sniff, sniff* One of my favorite sotries has ended! Now, what am I going to read? I loved this one and will miss getting chapter up-dates for it. It was an amazing story and I could have continued on with Freddy and the others on their adventure or watched more of Opal's transformation into healer or read more about Pippin and Merry and their adjustments to life after the quest, or more of Sam and Rose's new life together. I hope there are more stories coming soon. You captured them all so well in this. Your scene between Frodo and Legolas was lovely fore-shadowing and very sad. I thank you for a terrific read! Keep them coming!
Author's reply
Oh goodness, don't cry! There's still a *lot* to read!
Many of the things you mentioned will be stories in time, or parts of one. But there will be some shorter ones to come before I start on the sequel.
I am glad the Frodo and Legolas scene came over well. I think that they would have recognized the sea-longing in one another, and it is sad, as is anything to do with Frodo's leaving.
Thank you for all your lovely and encouraging reviews, they are part of what enabled me to keep going when I thought I was stuck, any number of times!
eiluj
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
Wow! What a story! Very sad to see it end, but looking forward to the next one.
If you'll forgive me for presuming, I assume you're *not* continuing Freddy and company's journey to Gondor -- too long, too far, too many OC's. Well, if you *are* continuing it, doubtless you'll do your usual excellent job, and I and everyone else will love it despite those OC's.
But if you're *not* continuing Freddy's story, maybe you'd consider writing a few scenes as short fics: the Shire-hobbits in Bree; Rohan; arriving in Minas Tirith; negotiations with the King; the conspirators' judgement; talking to Aragorn about Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin; returning to the Shire....
Thanks again.
Author's reply
I will be continuing the story in a sequel. I have been persuaded that there are those who are interested in my OCs and minor canon characters, and I know that I've let a couple of loose ends dangling, so there you go!
And there probably *will* be a few short fics as well. "Reckoning" left me with several ideas, and some like "The Dare" will mutate into their own story in time.
RogerGamgee
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
What a fantastic conclusion to an extraordinary tale...words can't describe how reading this has broadened my understanding of Tolkien's world. I've read some of your other work, and this is by far your crowning achievement. I know you had plans for a sequel, so I assume that it has to do with the arrival of the delegation in Gondor? Or do you have something else in mind?
Whatever it turns out to be, I have no doubt that it will be a fine story...you truly do have a gift for writing. Keep up the excellent work, and I look forward to your next project!
Author's reply
Thank you so much! Your thoughtful reviews have been very helpful to me. I use these stories to explore Middle-earth myself, so it helps my own understanding. I can tell you that the sequel so far is planning on covering the trip to Edoras. Where it goes from there, I am not yet certain.
I am going to put it on the back burner for just a little while, to simmer, while I use up a few shorter plot bunnies that have recently multiplied around here.
I'm so glad you enjoyed "A New Reckoning"!
sqrt(-1)
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
I'm sorry to see this story end - I've enjoyed it very much. I hope to see more writings from you in the future. I think you do an unusually good job of staying true to the correct "feel" of things, as well as relatively close in events to canon.
Author's reply
Thank you very much! I do try to stay very close to canon; it's important to me, although I'm still a bit embarassed about messing up Reggie's age. But more important than events being canon, is keeping the characterizations that way. Thank you for such a great compliment!
GamgeeFest
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 72: Farewells and a New Beginning
*cries despondently and shamelessly* NO! I don't want it to be over! Waaaaahhh!
Oh well, at least there's a sequel to look forward to. :)
I'm glad Freddy was able to get over the river ok. It'll get easier with time, but he'll probably never get over that fear completely. At least he won't have to travel for days down the river Anduin like poor Sam did.
Author's reply
Yes, there IS going to be a sequel--at least one, maybe two! But give me a bit of time.
Yes, crossing the River was pretty momentous for Freddy. And you are right, it's better than having to go down it in a boat, like Sam. Or think of poor Merry, and all those high places, and having to pretend they didn't bother him.
Lindelea
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 9: What the Master Heard
You left me smiling right along with Saradoc at the end.
Paladin and Saradoc are very much the Thain and Master, quietly going about their business getting to know people and what they are thinking, in order to best guide things in the subtle way of hobbits. No overt ruling or law-passing or proclamations, it seems.
The gossip sounded hobbity indeed. And the picture it painted of Merry, protecting Frodo!
No more time today, look forward to more later.
Author's reply
I think of hobbits as governing themselves much like a family--a father (e.g. the head of the clan) has a lot of discretion in how he can run things; he can be heavy-handed or light. Between the patriarchal and matriarchal guidance of the head and his wife, things tend to run smoothly most of the time. Sometimes things crop up that need to involve all the family heads together, but rather than a formal vote, I see them seeking a consensus, putting their opinions forward and coming to a general agreement.
Yes, the hobbits do indeed love to gossip, don't they? The incident with Merry took place in Ch. 7 of WTKCB (Brandy Hall) and he certainly did protect Frodo from a malicious tongue.
Hai Took
· 8 September 2004
· Chapter 71: Outward Bound
Hopefully Freddy will be able to get use to sleeping on the ground! I'm sure he will at some time, but not fun in the meantime! I wanted to listen in as the Fellowship members talked of their journey!
Sam and Rose saying bye to Legolas and Gimli was sad! I wish the two could stay in the Shire forever, but that just wouldn't me plausible, darn it! ;) I do hope to see them again in maybe another story *hint, hint* ;)
I liked Peony asking if there was a way to keep Poppy from going! Good for her to stay firm, and I hope that she is able to have some fun in all of this as well as learning! I guess learning can be fun, and she will probably meet some of the best teachers!
Good for Merry and Estella to wait for Freddy to come back! I hope that Freddy is able to enjoy it all as he aught to when he returns, maybe his loss wont feel so terrible when he returns.
Oh dear, I hope the prisoners can't cause anymore trouble! I hope Denny and Rolly can hold up against any taunts thrown their way! As always looking forward to more, thank you!
Author's reply
I don't know if Freddy will ever get used to it, but he might get resigned to it.
I know it was sad to see them saying good-bye. But I'm sure that the two of them will come back as often as they can, even though they cannot stay for good.
Peony is a more average type hobbit--much more of a homebody. But Poppy is nothing if not determined. It's part of what makes her a good healer. She is going to have fun learning all kinds of new things.
Merry knows how important it would be to Estell to have her brother present for such a momentous occasion.
Well, so far the prisoners haven't been able to do much, but there is a long trip ahead...
Loved the talk around the camp fire. I hope Freddy finds the strength to cross the Brandywine. I am looking forward to more, as always.
Author's reply
I am sure that Merry and Pippin were not wanting to waste any of the time they had left for spending with their dear friends. They would talk and talk as much as they could.
Freddy has more strength than he realizes.
A little more to come soon.
GamgeeFest
· 7 September 2004
· Chapter 71: Outward Bound
Being a King did not sound like much fun. LOL, too true. Though I'm sure being the Master has it's down sides, at least Saradoc doesn't have to deal with the stuffiness of courts.
No Angelica to see Freddy off? And I would figure that Rosamunda would prefer the delay in Estella and Merry getting married, if she dislikes Merry so much.
This chapter was so wonderfully written, almost plaintive. Everyone's getting ready to leave and move on with their lives, or embark on a grand adventure. It's going to be hard for everyone to say good-bye, and for us readers to see this story end.
Author's reply
Yes, being the Master can have its down side, and hobbits do have their own sort of formality. (Imagine trying to explain the intricacies of hobbit gift-giving customs, for example.) But nothing like the kind of elaborate pomp Gondor goes in for. Which, let us face it, probably isn't Strider's favorite part of the job.8-D
Angelica remained at home in Hobbiton. She would not have had the excuse of going home that Estella had, and if Ponto did not want to go, it wouldn't have done for her to go on her own. She would have had Estella on the trip there, but no one to come back with.
As for Rosamunda, she is ambivalent about Merry. She knows what a good catch he is socially and financially, which weighs a lot with her, and she's not *completely* mercenary, to her credit, she knows that Estella loves him and he, Estella. And he got somewhat in her good books by the very thing that made Estella upset with him: lighting into the Bankses, to whom she has now transferred the blame for the "bad stuff" that happened during the Troubles. But she still harbors suspicions of his supposed "wild Brandybuck streak",and she does not remember his childhood pranks with fondness. And he lives across the River. She probably won't mind the delay, and it may go some to assure her of Fredegar's safety--she'd reason that Merry would not risk his betrothal to Estella if he weren't certain Freddy would in fact be back in a year.
I am glad that you caught the mood I was trying to portray in this chapter. Our four Travellers are not travelling this time, and are having to say farewell once more to dear friends, especially Legolas and Gimli. But we have a whole 'nother group who are setting out for the first time to become travellers, and have their own mixed feelings.
I'm rather going to be sorry to see it end myself, but I am seeing the goal I set for myself coming in sight.
Lindelea
· 7 September 2004
· Chapter 8: Gifts
O my! You gave Pippin a medallion too! (We must be on the same wavelength)
I'm with Pippin. My heart beats a little faster at seeing the third pony.
Wow, an annual stipend. Now why didn't I think of that? (But of course, Pippin got his payments in my version, in a lump sum, with many "back payments" included!)
Author's reply
I think it's only appropriate; he's a Knight of Gondor, after all. Every once in a while, I sneak a bit of SCA culture into my stories. I was a good girl and refrained from giving him a white belt, but I couldn't resist the chain, and to make it different (SCA knights' chains are unadorned) I added the medallion.
Yes, Pippin hadn't a clue what to expect, unlike Merry, who had some warning by the letter Eomer sent his father. He knows two of those ponies are his cousin's so if there are three...8-D
An annual stipend just seemed to make sense to me. If it were a real feudal culture, a knight would spend a few months at court each year, and be supported by his liege during that time. I tweaked it a bit; and Aragorn tweaked it even more. (As did Eomer for Merry.) His stipends for Pippin are far in excess of what the average is, and I think of him as being a bit sneaky in his generosity.
I have to say, though, I *liked* your version--the treasure just kept on coming, no end in sight seemingly. Made all the previous angst worth it!
Lindelea
· 7 September 2004
· Chapter 7: A Joyful Reunion
...feeling the effects of sleeping on the ground. Ah, how I resemble that remark.
Merry missed his Stybba? I thought he rode him back to the Shire from the Quest, though that may be merely an impression of mine, perhaps from another fanfic, even... but then, it has been a long time since I read the first few chapters of your story, and longer since I read LOTR (starting again, as a matter of fact), so perhaps I missed something.
Ah. Rethinking. Of course Merry took only the silver horn from Rohan, was that it? (Or not... must re-read that section as I really don't recall what he took back from the Quest besides the horn, if anything)
May I nitpick? "he also speculated over whom Aragorn would have chosen"
(just turn it around and try a different word, to see which sounds right, "Aragorn chose he" or "Aragorn chose him")
If you don't like such nitpicks, say so and I will tell the grammar police to go take a hike.
Ah, Sam, thinking of his Rose. Lovely touch.
I keep wanting to ask, is your Targon the same as my Targon? Or someone completely different?
fond banter and mock quarreling--nice contrasting of Pippin and Merry's relationship with Legolas and Gimli's!
Six way hug! "Sir!" Warrior's salute! (Such wonderful details!)
O my, kneeling to the Ring-bearers. I went from grinning to blinking away a tear.
Respect due Frodo and Sam, indeed.
Author's reply
Well, they've been home a few months, time enough to appreciate feather beds once more! 8-D
Yes, Merry has Stybba, but he didn't take him on this trip, he was using cart ponies, which are what he and Pip are having to ride back on--sore trial for one used to riding his little Rohan steed!
I will have to go check that sentence--I've been doing a bit of editing and tweaking to some of the earlier chapters, but I'm not certain about that one. I don't mind nitpicks--sometimes I agree with them and fix them, but if I don't, no hard feelings, believe me. Not using a beta on this one, I take every bit of advice as well-intended.
I am not sure: My Targon is technically a minor canon character. Beregond introduces Pip to him when they go to get food right after they met in the City. So if that is your Targon, then they are the same.
I think in some ways the relationship, at least in the way they express themselves, is somewhat similar. It certainly would appear that way to Saradoc, anyway!
Thank you very much; those are details that mean a lot to me as well. As far as the kneeling went,I knew that it would not be something that Frodo or Sam either one would appreciate, but all those who know and love them would. (And that includes us!) 8-D Even though it was not canon, that scene in the movie gave me goosebumps--still does, in fact.
Lindelea
· 7 September 2004
· Chapter 6: In the Still of the Night
Ah, so many insights in the first two paragraphs alone! Merry had learned that expectations are not always met. Merry and Sam are alike in many ways. Merry regretted Sam's inevitable disillusionment.
And then Merry's relationship with Frodo. I can just see him studying his sleeping cousin.
"tiny bundle of eyes and curls"! What a description! (and the whole discussion of "connection" rings authentic)
I'm glad that Frodoin your story is not estranged from Merry after the Quest, as so many other fanfics have tried to intimate.
It helped that the message came from a Brandybuck? Ah, now I see, when you said what the last urgent message from Buckland was.
Author's reply
My Merry and Sam are long-time friends, and Merry has probably spent a good deal of thought about what they do and don't have in common. Merry is just slightly more cynical and skeptical than Sam, and he knows this.
I love exploring the relationship between Merry and Frodo. They have a whole different level of closeness than that between Merry and Pippin--not greater nor lesser, just different. I'm glad you liked that bit of description, I kind of liked it myself!
I have read a few like you mention. I can see maybe an occasional hitch in any of their relationships, they are only mortal after all; but I cannot begin to imagine anything that would cause them to become estranged or that would break the bond of love between them!
Kitty
· 7 September 2004
· Chapter 71: Outward Bound
Sorry for not reviewing the last chapters, I wasn't at home.
I have enjoyed the wedding very much. Doubtless the Shire will remember this wedding for long years, with the men and Legolas there and all. And it was quite sweet how Frodo managed to praise Sam's help during the Quest even then.
As for this chapter, it seems at least one of the prisoners has come to his senses, and I hope they will not dare to say anything nasty to Rolly and Denny Banks again. And I was quite amused about the problem how to feed Hobbits on the road to Gondor, that was very funny. I wonder if the men will ever understand how so little people can eat so much ;-)
Somehow I am a bit sad because the delegation will leave the Shire now, for it surely means this story will come to an end soon, too. I could read on forever. Have you decided about a sequel yet? I still wonder what Éomer and Aragorn will do with the Banks brothers and how the inexperienced Hobbits will go along with travelling so long and far and live with the big folk. I know, I am insatiable ...
Author's reply
That's quite all right. I hope you were away for fun and not toil!
I definitely wanted this to be the most memorable wedding the Shire had seen for years, or will see for years to come! And Frodo will take every opportunity he can get to praise Sam.
I'm not sure Bracegirdle has actually come to his senses, but he knows the futility of trying anything. Marked as they are, they will NEVER be able to settle in any land of hobbits again. Even in Bree, they will know what the marking means.
Yes, feeding a dozen hobbits on a long journey is a real matter of logistics, isn't it? 8-D
I am definitely planning at least *one* sequel, though it is still in the planning stages, and I won't be ready to start posting it for a good while. But I will cover at least the journey to Edoras, if not more.