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Caught Between the Light and Dark  by Budgielover 9 Review(s)
Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/21/2005
Whew! Honestly I didn't forget about your story but had to wait until I had time! Now I have a great many more things to worry about! I must say I felt bad for the warg that the Nazgul was using as well! How terrible, I suppose they aren't known for their kindness or anything but it certainly inspired pity in the readers!

Poor Frodo wandering around either visible to Goblins or Ringwraiths, not a great choice but he seems to have balanced it out well and is at least hidden from both it seems for the time being. I was holding my breath with him as he tried to hide in the little nooks and crannies of the cave!

Oh my, now Merry is sick! Poor Boromir not sure how to care for him and I'm sure he would blame himself if anything were to happen to Merry. Too bad Aragorn labeled everything in Elvish.

Pippin was having a bit of a problem and I think Aragorn may have just given themselves more of a problem with a hyper active hobbit then one who was near collapse iwth exhaustion :)

Now that I'm caught up there is just the wait for the next chapter to contend with. Looking forward to more, thank you!

Author Reply: It sounds like you need a break, Hai - a mental vacation if not an actual one. I hope you are enjoying the story, among all the angst and stress and tension! You might want to give some thought to that holiday, though ... as things are about to go from bad to truly, truly terrible... *grins evilly*

MordaenReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/17/2005
This is a very good story. I love the hobbits' dialogue (it's hilarious!). Please write more.


Author Reply: I'm glad you are enjoying the story, Mordaen. Thank you for letting me know, and for letting me know what part you especially like!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/16/2005
And there would be no anxious Bilbo hovering over him with plasters and toffees and hugs.

I love these little glimpses that expand the world from the narrow focus of the desperate situation, to the wider, brighter world behind them.

The wizard losing track of the subjects! Ha! Hyper Pippin is quite astonishing (and amusing, too, even in the middle of this desperate situation).

Brave Frodo! (And his imagining Sam's "look", LOL)

But what about Merry?


Author Reply: Not to worry, we return to Merry in the next chapter. Thank you so much for quoting that one sentence - it held great signficance for me, for some reason. I suppose it tied Frodo to a world he no longer had, a world he could hardly bear to think about. Home and safety and normalcy ... motivation enough to save a world.

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/16/2005
LOL, as if Pippin isn't hyper enough on his own. Aragorn clearly did not think through the implications of this one. I hope Pippin will be alright though, that seems like a very powerful drug indeed.

I loved Frodo's reminiscing about Bilbo and his description of Sam's *look*. That is so much like Sam. But Frodo's is in even more of a pickle than he was before, poor guy.

Author Reply: Honestly, things just seem to get worse and worse for Frodo, don't they? I don't know how that happens. Sometimes I have a very bad time of it trying to explain it to the Frodoll that sits on my printer and reads over my shoulder...

I'm glad you enjoyed Frodo's little daydream ... it eased his mind for a few moments and stiffened his resolve. I think Sam represents home and safety and normalcy for Frodo ... all the things he left behind in the Shire.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/15/2005
An already slightly rummy Pippin on an upper--I find myself cringing at the picture.

Good to see Frodo able to think and fight the influence of the Ring while doing such an un-Hobbity thing as climbing to safety.

Well done.

Author Reply: 'Slightly rummy Pippin on an upper' - what a perfect description! I think it is a good thing that our Merry is in no condition to physically flatten Aragorn when he sees his little cousin ... of course, Frodo might do it for him!

pebbles66Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/15/2005
Another great chapter. I love how you write a strong, brave Frodo. How awful for him that the Ring was resisting him, trying to betray him to the wraith! I also love your very hyper Pippin. Can't wait for more!

Author Reply: Hi, Pebbles! I'm glad you enjoy a strong, proactive Frodo. I like to write him as perhaps having to depend on being defended by the Fellowship, but not necessarily liking it. He couldn't have done what he did had he been weak. And as for 'hyper Pippin' ... I fear it is only a matter of degree, with that one. *grins*

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/15/2005
Never before have I thought of the possibility, that the Ring would physically resist its bearer to take it off. I thought it would only mentally influence him. But nothing can resist the stubborn will of a Baggins! Go Frodo! I hope, Merry and Boromir will be near.

Aragorn has achieved what he wanted. Pippin isn't tired any more. But it's really dangerous to walk unnoticed into a cave filled with goblins (and a Nazgul) with an overactive Took at your side ;-)

Author Reply: That was an enjoyable section to write, expanding on what we know of the Ring. And I think, Andrea, that your remark on it being 'really dangerous to walk unnoticed into a cave...' with Pippin in this state is about to come very, very true... (grins)

ArielReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/15/2005
LOL!!! Pippin on speed! Now THERE'S an image! Heheheh! I am very glad you have Frodo going up the shaft where Merry and Boromir might have a chance of finding him! Much better than those orcs getting him!

Author Reply: *smiles* I had intended for there to be much more 'high-Pippin' humor than I found I could use, unfortunately. There is only so much humor you can insert in a primarily angst-story, even with our sweet Pippin. And you KNOW it can't be that easy to reunite Frodo with any of the Fellowship... (heh, heh, heh)

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/15/2005
GO FRODO!!!! And Merry and Boromir are tracking the vent shafts :) :)

Oh no! Pippin on uppers!!!! I think Aragorn will regret that decision ;)

Well done and looking forward to more :)

Author Reply: I think Aragorn will regret that too, Pearl - though of course, with Pippin, sometimes it is hard to differentiate between his normal hyper behavior and chemically-induced hyper behavior... And I thought Merry was rather clever to have thought of tracking the others by following the air vents. 'Hobbits truly are amazing creatures!'

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