She could have sung, "Johnny, Don't Be a Hero".

Currently on my third reading of Don't Panic! and Okay, NOW Panic, as well as the associated short fiction. Just wondering: are you still writing? Especially the same sort of story? It would be wonderful if you did!

I really cannot believe it's done. I love these characters so much and to think that I have to say goodbye now hurts. Now every time I read JRRT's work and come accros one of their names I will smile to myself, because I will know their personality, even if JRRT himself never fleshed it out. Thank you for allowing me to explore the land of Middle Earth that I love so much with leasure, without the constraints of the LotR plot, and through Penny's wondering eyes. I... wow... just, thank you. Your writting is so beautiful and I will miss these characters. All the best to you ~ N

Asfkddjgeie the angst! And the resolution! And the chapter name! I'm crying. I can't believe the story's almost done

Ooooooh I've been waiting for her to figure it out! Ugh they're so sweet with each other

I really love Lindir so much

/weeps for Elrond with you/

Ok, I really love Lindir! And I completely ship his and Penny's friendship

Interesting...
Honestly, I REALLY, REALLY, super dooper enjoyed this story. I feel quite guilty for not having reviewed every chapter and I fully intend to go back and reread it and review as I go on the second time 'round. The temptation to keep going and find out what happened next was too strong, so, with that, I offer you my deepest and sincerest apologies.
I laughed, cried and fumed over this fanfic (or rather 'these two fanfics') and, it must be said, in the beginning of Don't Panic, I held significantly more sympathy for Halbarad than I did for Penny. (Though it must be said that, on occasion, I felt a bit of sympathy for her too and didn't consider her a complete toad) As time went on though, I started to respect Penny and, as she grew, I began to actually quite like her. In truth, I have thought and dreamed about this story many times over the past few weeks since I started reading it, and I'm about two hours late for dinner because I absolutely HAD to finished the last two chapters. *looks sheepish*
I feel like I have also grown as I watched Penny develop and, it is with a heart full of gratitude, that I thank you for sharing these works with the community and, more to my point, though it probably wasn't to yours, with me. May Elbereth protect you and Eru guide you. (God bless!)
~Etta

Man I've said it before but the BEST (and funniest) thing about whole this story is the Very Serious and Dignified Rhimlath constantly being clowned on by every other elf around. Lindir stays frying him lolol!

LOL I've read this story and the first one a dozen times each over the years and I swear the most hilarious chapters have always the ones with Rhimlath. I love it.

Rereading this chapter. And crying. Again.

Goodness gracious, she cries a lot. I could understand it, to an extent, when she first arrived, but it’s like waterworks every time she has to deal with anything at all (conflicting/ complex emotions or strong emotions or stress or indecision or fear).

Granted I like your story, and you write beautifully, but I feel like Penny didn’t emotionally mature.

Silence is not the same as learning to handle and process emotions or stress maturely.

She gained the insight to be respectful, and hold her tongue instead of going off on some I’ll thought rant, but she almost went too far into subservient silence. For at times, she became meek instead of sticking up for her convictions or herself.
Being respectful and polite is less of what one says, and more of how one says it/ phrases it.

I’m afraid I’m not saying this well: I feel as if she cast aside the ‘Old Penny’, and became a whole ‘New Penny’, instead of growing and building upon the foundation of the Penny she already was.

Which is natural and human, to adapt to the surrounds that you’re thrown into.

I suppose it saddens me how she seemed to have lost the ‘Old Fiery Penny’, and adapted to the role of the ‘Quiet Female’. I would have loved to see the ‘Old Fiery Penny’ learn and grow into a strong, diplomatic woman who speaks with passion and conviction. A Penny who doesn’t apologize or shy away from who she is, or the culture she was raised in, but learns and grows. I most certainly don’t like how Halladan ‘punished’ her with the silent treatment when she showed her spirit.

I suppose an example:

I was especially disappointed in how she reacted to the elves discovering she was unmarried, but she wasn’t a virgin. There was no need for her to be embarrassed and feel ‘slut- shamed’. I would have liked her to address it full on: to strongly and respectfully say that she came from a different land and different culture. That even if she didn’t remember details of her life, she knew that it wasn’t a point of shame for her people. To be ashamed for doing something that is normal for her culture, made me sad and angry. I wanted her to learn/ grow to stand up for herself in a dignified manner (again instead of the childish ill thought, spontaneous rants of fury her character started out with). Again, I would have liked that same strong, silent, unapologetic conviction for her behavior/character, most notably in a culture that was vastly different, when she and Halladan spoke of the matter. A bit more: “it was normal then and I’m not ashamed, but it’s not normal here - so I haven’t since I arrived”.

Again, that’s not to say I didn’t love your story, because I did (I do). It was/is beautiful and wonderful. I can tell the time and effort you put into it, and I appreciate every word you’ve given us. I most especially LOVED the circular ending (even though her husband is her thousandth-great grandfather/ Halladan is married to his thousandth removed daughter).

I don’t give my amateur opinion as a negative to your story, but more as food for thought on any future characters you may create.

Bootstrap paradox, huh?

I'm a bit proud of myself for recognizing the description of Hamlet a moment before the mention of Shakespeare.