Reconciliation by Larner
Antane · 26 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Oh, wow, a sequel! Love Frodo's letter to Pippin. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, a sequel. Glad you are happy about it. Frodo's letter to Pippin is longer than the one he sent to Merry in "The Choice of Healing," but I think he'd have an easier time in ways speaking to Pippin than Merry at the moment, knowing how devastated he's going to leave his brother-cousin. Hope the rest continues to meet with your approval.
Andrea · 26 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Wow! I've never thought about what it must have looked like to Saradoc and Paladin to find the Crickhollow House abandoned. They are gone - again! I'm just glad they figured out so quickly what really had happened. The different reactions of Saradoc and Paladin to Frodo's letters to their sons are very insightful. It's just like Paladin to "explode" like that, being full of anger and speaking before thinking. Saradoc on the other hand knows instantly what Frodo had in mind: to spare the others the pain of seeing him dying. It's good for Paladin to have Saradoc there to calm him down. That was a very touching scene! And Brendi is back! I really like him. I'm looking forward to reading the next chapter!
Author's reply
So glad you appreciate it, Andrea. Yes, Sara and Pal are different individuals with different reactions; but both with a father's love for their sons, and a close relative's love of their lost Frodo. And Brendi also is knowing loss here. How can he avoid it? So glad so many have come to like him.
Radbooks · 25 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Looks like the start of another very good story! How heart wrenching it would have been to ride up to Crickhollow to try and reconcile with your son only to find out he was gone and to think that he might have been gone again... maybe even for good. At least I would have thought something like that after all that had gone on between them. I'm jealous that they got to taste lembas! :) I'm looking forward to seeing Halladan and co., again.
Author's reply
They must have been certain at first the lads were off on some great danger once again, and must have been relieved to realize what was really happening, I think. I'd love to try lembas. I have a recipe I got from HASA a couple years back--think I'll try it this year.
Baggins Babe · 25 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
I've been looking forward to your next story, Larner. Love the way you portray Saradoc and Paladin and I'm glad that Paladin has finally begun to realise the truth. Saradoc understands Pippin and knows that he will forgive. Finding Crickhollow abandoned will have been a great shock to both of them. Glad the letters arrived before they had too much time to fret. Poor Brendi - trying to be so correct and observe his client's confidence. I really love this character. I can't wait to see what happens at the meeting with Halladan.
Author's reply
I'd not meant to start posting again so quickly, but sometimes things move more swiftly--and then more slowly--than I'd anticipated. It must have been terrifying to think their lads had hared off once more, and reassuring to realize what was really going on this time. And again, am so glad Brendi is appreciated. His heart also is being torn, I think. The visit with Halladan will come soon.
Bodkin · 25 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
It must have been rather heart-stopping to arrive at Crickhollow to find it abandoned in haste. The letters from Frodo must have been reassuring - in a way - because at least they know why their sons dashed off in such haste. I look forward to seeing the understanding between parents and sons grow stronger.
Author's reply
I agree about the feelings at finding the house empty. And although they now mourn Frodo's leaving, at least they are assured their sons will be back in a reasonable amount of time, and probably not changed more markedly than grief always changes people. And this is, after all, the description of the reconcilations these make.
Ami · 25 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
I am really looking forward to this story, Larner. I loved "Ties of Family", and this new story about those left behind will be just as poignant. I have a feeling, though, you will make us miss Frodo just as much as his family will.
Author's reply
It's always difficult to lose someone well loved; and in this case where so many questions remain for those Frodo didn't take into his confidence, which included so many who knew and loved him so well, it's more difficult. Glad you are going to follow this one. It fits into gaps in "The Ties of Family" as well as serving as a sequel to "The Acceptable Sacrifice."
Kitty · 25 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Oh Larner, I hadn’t expected a new story so soon, and certainly not this, but I’m so happy you’re writing it! Admittedly it didn’t exactly belong to ‚The Acceptable Sacrifice’, as that was Frodo's story, not to mention TAS was already the longest story at SoA, but I wanted to know more than the bits from your other fics about how this ended. Thank you *so* much for writing it! It’s good to see Paladin being back to normal. What a shock for him (and of course Saradoc), going to apologize to his son and to find Crickhollow empty! Thank godness the letters arrived just then and helped them to guess what truly happened, so they hadn’t to worry their sons would be away again for an unknown fate and length of time. Particularly as they just had to accept Bilbo and Frodo were both dying. I’m glad they didn’t continue to question Brendi. It must be rather difficult for him, knowing exactly what happened, but not able to tell them anything just now! Probably even more so as he himself loved Frodo so much and is very sad as well. Now I look forward to their meeting with Halladan, Gilfileg and Eregiel! Thank you again! *hugs*
Author's reply
Well, it's your fault and Dreamflower's that this was written, you know! Hope you continue to enjoy it. For the two fathers to find their sons' house empty must have indeed been a shock; but they'd known this was the one day they'd be together and able perhaps to drag the lads away to Bree; and of course Frodo had planned for his letters to arrive too late for the recipients to try to track him down and cause him more distress. That both occurances happened on the same day was coincidence, of course--or as much a coincidence as can happen when the Creator has a hand in things, of couse. For Brendi this must be excruciating, bound as he is to keep his employer's secrecy, and knowing his own grief for Frodo's leaving. But the meeting with the King's kinsmen will happen.
demeter d · 25 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Oh! An Acceptable Sacrifice was Frodo's story. But now you continye with all of the others.How very wonderful!
Author's reply
Yes, we see how the others come to their most needed reconciliations with one another and the fact of Frodo's leaving. Hope this fulfills its promise.
Grey Wonderer · 24 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
I am so pleased to see this and to see Brendi again. I love that character. I found it ineresting thatSaradoc seems to know Pippin better than Paladin does in a way. Saradoc was wise to know Pippin's forgiving nature. Paladin must have made quite a scene when Pippin had his dream. I could see both fathers worrying that Pippin and Merry were gone again. Naturally, it would be their first thought after what happened the last time and also Paladin't guilt must have been working on him as well. I am looking forward to more of this!
Author's reply
As you work through "The Acceptable Sacrifice" you'll see that last scene with Pippin, which is quite heartrending for Pippin, of course. Pal has seen the errors of his ways, however. Saradoc has been seeing far more of Pippin, I suspect, since the two lads moved into Crickhollow than Pippin's parents have. Sara's in a better position to be certain Pippin's not changed that much than Paladin is. And again, am so glad Brendi is appreciated as much as he is.
Linda Hoyland · 24 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Frodo's letter was very touching.
Author's reply
I'm so glad you found it so, Linda. Thanks for letting me know.
Periantari · 24 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
I love this story so much already. I know i have to really catch up on "The Acceptable Sacrifice" but the summary you wrote made me so curious, i couldn't resist a peek. :) I love your characterisations of Paladin and Saradoc, i love your dialogue and everything is written so very believable and indeed, how Merry, Pippin and Sam and their families had to deal with Frodo leaving is indeed interesting to investigate. I so admire your canonical nature and also the fact that you're willing to explore the things that Tolkien did not mention. Thank you so much. I look forward to more (while i catch up in "Sacrifice". :)
Author's reply
Thank you. I prefer canon, although I've been known to push the envelope on occasion--hopefully not too badly. To accept their new roles in life must have been difficult in many ways for those left behind. This is a far more focused story than "The Ties of Family"--or at least I HOPE so. And thank you so very much for the compliments. I appreciate them a good deal right now, for I find I'm in need of them.
Dreamflower · 24 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Oh, Larner! Thank you so much!! This is going to be wonderful! I love Paladin and Saradoc here, with Paladin so filled with grief and remorse for his behavior, and Saradoc being so supportive. And, oh the despair and worry at finding Crickhollow abandoned. Thank goodness for the Quick Post, and for the clues that enabled them to piece the story together. I look forward with gleeful anticipation to seeing the rest of this! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (((hugs Larner))) *sits back and holds breath for next chapter*
Author's reply
You and Kitty put this plotbunny right in my lap, and I think it is actually a miniature nuzgul, myself. I certainly hope it doesn't get out of hand as so many of them seem to do! To find the house empty must have been a shock; the reassurance that their sons would return must have been such a relief, and hopefully the taste of lembas helped in their healing.
SlightlyTookish · 24 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
Ooh! I enjoyed this very much! It's nice to read about Saradoc and Paladin, and of course they would have feared their sons had left again. I can't wait to see where this story goes.
Author's reply
Sara and Pal do this time have the limelight, at least in most of the chapters. They've had a scare, but hopefully they are relieved now that they aren't again in danger of losing their sons.
harrowcat · 24 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
A perfect start to this Larner. It links the two together so well but also stands alone. I look forward to seeing this period explored. And it was great to get back from my parents to be met by this!
Author's reply
Hope all is getting better for your mother. I continue to pray for her. And I, too, felt this was a period that ought to be examined, particularly as Kitty and Dreamflower in especial asked for it.
Queen Galadriel · 24 March 2006 · Chapter 1: 1: Crickhollow Abandoned
So wonderful to see another tale beginning so soon! But oh dear, all who love Frodo have a lot to face, and very soon. Frodo's letter to Pippin brought tears to my eyes. I like seeing this from the point of view of some of Frodo's other relatives and friends. I'm glad you've decided to explore this. I can't write such things--the grief tears so at the heart, and the memories it brings back to write of such loss are so depressing (I fear I would have given up long before Through the Flames was completed, if Antane hadn't wanted it so much), but one can't read/write only the good and pretend the bad isn't there. I look forward to more of this tale of reconciliation! God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
I thought this was due to a plotbunny, but I think that a small nuzgul was masquerading as a bunny this time. Shall we see where it leads? But the questions posed by Dreamflower and Kitty needed to be answered, I find.