Okay, NOW Panic! by Boz4PM
paranoidangel · 16 December 2007 · Chapter 50: Que Sera Sera
I'm just glad to see another chapter of this no matter how long the wait. It's nice and long and I can get myself lost in this world again. I love the close relationship between Penny and Halladan and how they look out for each other.
Author's reply
Thank you - both for reading and your comments. :D
Kitty · 16 December 2007 · Chapter 50: Que Sera Sera
Arvain is incorrigible, isn’t he? Now I wonder if he, too, thinks Penny and Halladan would be a wonderful couple, considering how he’s teasing her about her hold on Halladan *grin* After reading how Penny permanently feared to be asked about what will happen now, I am even more glad she finally confided in Halladan. Her burden will be a bit easier to bear now that she can share it. And if necessary, he can probably give her a bit of counsel. Hm ... I truly wonder how much Gandalf already knows and how he got to know it. His words, even if adressed more to the Hobbits (though probably meant for Penny as much as for them), have hopefully helped to relieve her of some of her worries. Oh, and I understand completely why Tadion held the chapter up for so long. He *is* a pain in the backside, no doubt. Hopefully he’s behaving himself better in the future. After this chapter, I think I’ll have to dig out my Penny-Halladan-banner again *waves banner* It’s so sweet to watch them care for each other! And in spite of the new burden of foreknowledge, Halladan seems more relaxed than in the beginning, at least to me, and that makes him even more loveable. Merry Christmas, my dear, and a Happy New Year!
Author's reply
Arvain is incorrigible. But then he's a typical younger brother in some respects, and it only goes to show how much Penny is becoming 'part of the family' that he can tease her in much the same way as if she were a sister. Tadion has been officially dubbed Authorial Menace. *glares at him* Glad you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for reading! :D
amokeh · 15 December 2007 · Chapter 50: Que Sera Sera
Squeee!!! A new Penny chapter!!! I was so thrilled to sign on tonight and be able to read your latest addition. I'm really hoping that Penny and Halladan will end up together, as they're very good for each other. At any rate, I very much enjoyed this chapter, and am waiting with bated breath for the next. :)
Author's reply
Thank you - glad you enjoyed it. :D
Neilia · 15 December 2007 · Chapter 50: Que Sera Sera
I will not give up on you, Boz. I enjoy Pen-ii's saga too much. Just keep doing as much as you can and it will suffice. I wonder if Pen-ii and Halladan will marry? I am an incurable romantic. *sigh* Well, let's get her past the big 'troubles' in the Shire, first, eh? :)
Author's reply
Yeah, she has a hard road to travel ahead, both literally and figuratively. Thanks for enjoying, reading and commenting!
Dreamflower · 15 December 2007 · Chapter 50: Que Sera Sera
A lovely long chapter, and like many another lovely long chapter from you, well worth the wait! I really appreciated the way you had Penny react to having told Halladan. It did help her to be sharing the burden, and to be able to allow herself the luxury of being guided by someone else. (And her uncertainty about where to put her hands, riding with him was adorable!) And now, knowing that Gandalf also knows, more or less, she can allow herself to be eased by that. She knows what his nature is as a Maia, and that his wisdom and foresight are far more than human. Still, I can understand her unease when she sees the hobbits, especially seeing them relatively happy and making merry, and knowing what they are going home to find. It has to break her heart to know that *their* hearts will be broken; and yet, hopefully, she will find comfort in knowing it was necessary and important for the Shire's future well-being,for them to deal with Saruman/Sharkey on their own terms. I realize you are very far from coming to the end of this, much less anything to do with Penny's future far down the line, but somehow, I can envision her someday as an old lady who has long lived among the Dunedain, visiting in the new Northern capital someday, and meeting Kali, Raz and Ban once again, with their wives and children, and knowing that it *was* all for the best after all. But I don't know that that's foresight--more wishful thinking than anything else, I suppose! ;-)
Author's reply
Thank you. And, yes, the past several chapters have been slowly working towards this point: when she would still be burdened, yes, but at least have a good chunk of that burden shared and her anxiety eased (if only a little). She has so much to deal with that she'd crack under the strain if she didn't. It also gives Halladan something else to focus on which is no bad thing. It has to break her heart to know that *their* hearts will be broken; and yet, hopefully, she will find comfort in knowing it was necessary and important for the Shire's future well-being,for them to deal with Saruman/Sharkey on their own terms. That's exactly it. She can reason it out all she wants to, but to emotionally involved - to know them and to be friends with them - makes it all the harder for her to have to cope with. Needless to say this will be an ongoing subject right up to the point that the hobbits leave Imladris, and even beyond.
Anonymous · 15 December 2007 · Chapter 50: Que Sera Sera
I've been reading this story, and really enjoy it! Like the other commenter said, Penny/Pen-ii is worth the wait! (Oddly enough, I was just revisiting this story the other day- and then I find a wonderful new update!)
Author's reply
Thank you. :D
eiluj · 14 December 2007 · Chapter 50: Que Sera Sera
Definitely still reading, even if I never know what to say in a review. Penny is always worth the wait. Thank you for her story.
Author's reply
Thank you for that. And you're welcome - pleasure to share it and know others enjoy it. :)
Yanic · 26 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Loved it, and I'm also loving the evolving relationship between Halladan and Penny, just great!
Author's reply
Thank you. :D Hoping the next chapter should not be too long in coming (perhaps a couple of weeks at the most)
Pryderi · 19 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Well I continue to enjoy this tale. I really believe that it is very fine writing. I take your point about Halladan and await developments. Well a couple of points I noticed in this chapter and it is not necessary to respond to this new character. Whatever you may have been told. A PEDANT WRITES: Why does the party move East before moving North along the banks of Isen?In my copy of Unfinished Tales, The Battles of the Fords of Isen, it says: "The Isen came down swiftly......but..... it became slow before it turned West.......Just above this westward bend were the Fords of Isen." Now is Gandalf an "advisor" or an "adviser". I had assumed the former was American but my copy of Chambers (the latest) advises(!) that they are alternative spellings without indicating that either is American. On the other hand my (more elderly but still quite recent) Shorter OED does not mention "advisor" at all. Ho Hum the world changes but I challenge fan fiction to find Tolkien himself using the "o" letter rather than the "e". THE PEDANT retreats. I really look forward to your postings so I am not sure whether I hope you update more frequently or not. I want to know what happens but I like having another chapter to look forward to. Good Luck, Pryderi.
Author's reply
Thanks for the comment - glad you enjoyed the chapter. :D "Well a couple of points I noticed in this chapter and it is not necessary to respond to this new character. Whatever you may have been told." Sorry, I wasn't sure what you meant by this. :) As for your points: I am not quite sure why it says that the fords are above the bend in UT, but that seems to contradict both LOTR and the maps. The maps has the river bend, as it says, but has the fords BELOW the bend. So too in TTT the road and the river north of the fords head east for a while and only then head north: "There was an ancient highway that ran down from Isengard to the crossings. For some way it took its course beside the river, bending with it east and then north; but then at the last it turned away and went straight towards the gates of Isengard;..." (In 'The Road to Isengard' ("The Two Towers"), just after they have crossed the river and passed the burial mound) That's where I took my details from. :) In case of any discrepancies between versions I take LOTR first, then The Silmarillion and/or UT, and then HoME in that order, though in this case I was not even aware that UT said something different about the position of the fords in relation to the bend in the river. As for adviser/advisor - either is equally valid. I am not sure why '-er' should feel odd to me when I'm describing someone in an official capacity but it does for some reason. However, since, on checking, I find it listed as 'the alternate and in brackets', I shall change it to '-er'. I was honestly not aware I had spelt it one way or the other. Thank you. :) My OED does say '-or' is "the disupted form" (lol!) and has come into regular usage likely due to influence from 'advisory' which makes sense.
Eilenach · 18 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Once again, you've done a great job of showing Penny's anguish at having both foreknowledge and the realization that some good will come out of the trauma that will occur in the Shire. Plus it helps that Gandalf does let Saruman go! I love this set of lines: “I do not know, and I know it is ridiculous, but… does it not make you feel strange to see a tree walking about?” Halladan shrugged. “No stranger than seeing the ghosts of the dead fight, and far less unnerving.” Fair point.
Author's reply
Thank you for reading and letting me know you enjoyed it. :D Yeah, Penny's in something of a quandry - there's pros and cons on both sides. Having someone else to thrash it all through with should help... perhaps. ;)
Miss · 17 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
OH an update!! Well, good for you, you're fine! I was truley becoming worried. Great chapter tough. I can't put the line right together. It's one o clock in the moring. My bed is calling me.... Till the next iupdate!!
Author's reply
Sorry I worried you! :\ Yeah, just RL going even more nuts than usual and this chapter being particularly bolshy. ;) Glad you enjoyed the chapter. :D
Dreamflower · 15 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Oh, I liked the bit at breakfast with the tea; clearly they've had *some* time with her--but she still seems to be being reluctant to having a lot of conversation with them--I recall in Rivendell, Frodo was helping her a good deal with her language lessons, for example. I'm somewhat thrown by your comment re. Frodo having foresight re.Sam. I can't think which bits you're referring to. *is intrigued now* At the Grey Havens, when he tells Sam farewell, he not only tells him that he is his heir, but predicts the names and genders of five of Sam's children, and hints that there will be more than that. He also predicts that Sam will be Mayor for a good long time, and that he will be a famous gardener. (I made a mistake in mentioning "the others"--that's fanon, though I've always thought it logical, that if he had foresight regarding Sam, it would extend to Merry and Pippin as well.) But he *definitely* had foresight regarding Sam--and rather specific *detailed* foresight!
Author's reply
I had entirely forgotten that. Thank you. :D
Dreamflower · 15 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Oh wow! I'm so glad she told Halladan; I think that he will decide to keep his mouth shut, but if not, the only safe one I can think to tell would be Gandalf--who seems to already know a good deal anyway. You have grappled so well with the conflicting feelings that Penny's had to deal with here. But I couldn't help but notice that the ones she's been avoiding most are the hobbits--it's going to be a lot harder to do that once they move on. The Company's only going to get smaller as they return to Rivendell. On the other hand, Frodo, too, has an amazing amount of foresight about Sam and the others...could it *all* have come from dreams?
Author's reply
Well, she's not been avoiding the hobbits completely - they have breakfast together every morning and they are around and about in the evenings, indeed they decamped to the Dunedain fire while the elves were at their gravest. She sees a lot of them, but there is not much interaction (but then part of that is due to language constraints given only Frodo speaks Sindarin and her Westron is very limited), or at least there is not much interaction of direct relevence to the plot. It's there, but limited. I'm somewhat thrown by your comment re. Frodo having foresight re.Sam. I can't think which bits you're referring to. *is intrigued now* Glad you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for reading and taking time to comment. :)
Kitty · 15 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
All the farewells in the books left me in tears every time I read it, and here it is even worse, because you did take the time to describe them properly. Well done, even if it was sad. I loved particularly the one with Legolas; he’s so perceptive, and I was glad he told Penny to confide in someone. Penny’s feelings around Orthanc are understandable, considering what she knows, and I thinky you caught it very well how she has to think and feel in this difficult situation. And she told Halladan finally! I am so glad – it must be easier for her to share this heavy burden, to have someone know about it. Now he can appreciate better how she’s feeling, knowing what is to come and not been allowed to talk about it. And I think Halladan is in a position to steer any decisions made by the leaders in the right direction, so everything is playing out as in the books, maybe even without telling anyone. I look forward to know if he keeps silence about this or not. On the other hand – Gandalf knew the Hobbits had to get through a gate ... hm. You know, there are some parts of LotR where I get the feeling they could truly have someone like Penny with them instead of foresight - it is fitting perfectly with canon. Halladan’s quick change of mind about Saruman was fascinating to watch. To understand how deep his treachery ran and how far back in history has to be quite a shock, hasn’t it? And of course, I loved the weasel incident :) Lindir is such a good friend, always having a good story when Penny needs distraction. Great chapter, Boz, as always, and well worth the wait!
Author's reply
it is fitting perfectly with canon Which is the great battle with this part of the fic and why this chapter ended up being so problematic - my first idea didn't work so I had to do a complete rethink. I have to stick to canon, but I also have to keep everyone in character and make everything seem reasonable and realistic. I'm glad you think it's working so far. Thank you. :D
Daynawayna · 15 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
This just keeps getting better and better Boz! Im very glad Penny was forced to share what she knows... I just pray Haladan doesn't spill the beans too soon! I what will we do when Penny finally finds peace? Oh, wait, she won't because she'll have to worry about learning stuff and fitting in and... ::giggles::: Your chapters are always worth the wait, my dear. We all wish they were more frequent, but you can't rush a good thing, can you? :)
Author's reply
Thank you for thinking that. :) Glad you enjoyed it and felt it was worth waiting for in the end. what will we do when Penny finally finds peace? Oh, wait, she won't because she'll have to worry about learning stuff and fitting in and... ::giggles:: *cackles* Exactly! ;D
Lindelea · 15 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Marvellously done, and well worth the wait. It is the little details like this, so obviously carefully-thought-out, that breathe life into the characters and the writing: She looked down at the bowl, as if absent-mindedly checking it were still in her grasp before glancing back up and not quite looking him in the eye. I loved the practical joke "battle"--brings back memories of brothers engaged in similar shenanigans... Halladan's help here reminds me of an old Shire proverb: Sorrows shared are divided; shared joys are multiplied. (Ok, well, the Shirefolk might've cribbed it from some other peoples...)
Author's reply
Thank you. :D And, I'm so glad the Lindir/Elladan battle reminded you of brotherly goings on - it was meant to have exactly that sort of feel. :D
Abra Ahab · 15 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
As always, worth the wait! It really must have been heartbreaking for Penny to listen to Halladan and Aragorn go on about how much the loved the North, knowing what was happening. I can't imagine keeping such a huge thing inside and pretending that everything is normal - though this seems to be a common theme for both Penny and Halladan! I am glad that she told Halladan, though I honestly hope that he keeps her secret. The Scouring of the Shire was so important to the hobbits - especially the four who were part of the Fellowship. Thanks for another great chapter!
Author's reply
I think in some ways it's as hard as when she was in Imladris, or perhaps worse. Last time the events were truly horrendous, BUT she had the sure knowledge that Sauron would fall at the end of it, which was a massive plus point to keeping her mouth shut as both Gandalf and Elrond pointed out. This time, the scouring of the Shire is minor in comparison to everything that's been, BUT the fall of Saruman is not nearly as 'life or death' as the fall of Sauron. It's a harder call for her, not nearly so clear cut. Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for reading. :)
Mopsy · 14 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
JOY UNCONFINED! *does lap of the joy lagoon* *leaps the happy stile* Seriously madam, you hold my heart strings in your hand (not to be taken literally - gross). I instantly bludged off study for uni to read this; I have my priorities sorted. I love the Penny/Halladan moments. Halladan seems to be becoming quite vulnerable to her. And dear old Lindir. He bounces back, doesn't he? Penny dishes him a snappy remark, makes her apology very abruptly, and next thing he's leading her off on a well-timed stroll. I suppose that's what makes him such a true and likable character. Anyway I must dash, but thanks once more for this gem of a story. :)
Author's reply
Ah, see, Lindir, for all he plays the fool and mucks about is also as much a true elf as any other - so he is wise and gentle, with a rich and deep understanding about quite a bit in life. He knows full well that Penny's acting the way she is only because she's upset and troubled and he's a good enough friend to be able to shrug it off as exactly that and be there for her. :) Thank you for reading and taking time to comment. :)
Melneth · 14 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Once again another wonderful chapter! :) Poor Penny, I'm glad that she finally took everyone's advise and finally shared her burdens with Halladan.
Author's reply
Thank you. :) Well, yes, she needed to, I think.
el_esteleth · 14 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
I giggled at the title to this chapter. I really enjoyed the continuing saga of Penny. I'm glad she finally shared her burden with someone, even though now she has to worry that Halladan may decide this knowledge is too important to leave unshared. I really enjoyed this chapter. Well written as usual. Thank you for sharing. Es.
Author's reply
I giggled at the title to this chapter. Hee! Well, it had to be done, right? ;) That's also why the previous chapter was 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road.' XD Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for reading. :D
Pearl Took · 14 September 2007 · Chapter 49: We're Off To See The Wizard
Wow! This was so powerful, Boz! Penny really has had a lot to deal with, knowing what she knows. I think I need to read the Unfinished Tales . . . Thank you so much for this glorious story!
Author's reply
Thank you, and thanks for reading it! And, yes, you MUST read Unfinished Tales! It's wonderful! It contains the BEST piece of writing by JRRT ever, in my opinion - The Coming of Tuor to Gondolin. That and there is so much in there that informs back into LOTR, it's just glorious: such as Gandalf giving the dwarves' version of events re. that first meeting with Bilbo in Bag End, or that the Nazgul called on Saruman on their way to the Shire, let alone the two possible stories for the Elfstone... Ah, it's just fabulous stuff! :D
Miss · 11 September 2007 · Chapter 48: Follow The Yellow Brick Road
Okay, just wanna know if you're allright. It has been a while since your last update. There is no presure, but you've always updated (on a general basis) fast.
Author's reply
Well, I dunno about 'fast', lol - it's been a rate of about a chapter a month or more of late. But thank you for the concern, and my apologies for the long delay. Various factors have combined such as various bouts of illness, life being fairly manic (or more manic than usual) as well as a major writer's block/rethink of the upcoming plot points in this and subsequent chapters. Anyway, rest assured the next chapter is almost written, though needs edits and tweaks, and I'm hoping (barring crisis or disaster) to possibly have it to the betas by the end of the week or weekend. Hopefully it should be posted next week some time... hopefully. ¬¬ Sorry for having worried you! If in doubt, poke me on my LJ - I often post a 'where I'm at with writing/Penny' posts on there just for random passers-by if there's been a long delay on a chapter. :)
Abra Ahab · 11 August 2007 · Chapter 48: Follow The Yellow Brick Road
Another great chapter! Am really looking forward to how things are handled once they reach Isengard. Also, do I detect some forshadowing of a deepening ... relationship between Halladan and Penny? Hm ....
Author's reply
Thank you - glad you enjoyed it. Next chapter should (I hope) not be too much longer in coming. :)
Paladin1420 · 28 July 2007 · Chapter 48: Follow The Yellow Brick Road
I just caught up with the last 2 chapters. As always, I am very impressed with how much reality your portrayal brings to the landscape and characters. Your writing gives me a welcome new perspective when I re-read the books.
Author's reply
Thank you for that. I'm both proud and thrilled that my stories have had that effect. :D
Pearl Took · 25 July 2007 · Chapter 48: Follow The Yellow Brick Road
Another deeply beautiful and sad chapter, Boz. *sigh*
Author's reply
Thank you. :)