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Moments in Time  by Larner 15 Review(s)
SlightlyTookishReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/29/2006
What a poignant and magical scene! Healing through music.

Author Reply: Yes, indeed--healing through music, and an unexpected moment of beauty.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/20/2006
Very touching.I can imagine Pippin would at times be haunted by memories.

Author Reply: I think all who must face the terror of wars must at times be haunted by the memories of that time spent. And Hobbits have never been raised to such pursuits....

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/19/2006
Beautifully descriptive and so very touching, that Tribbals is touched with Elven magic as she dances, her own small tribute to 'Mer Frodo' and to Pippin's musical abilities. I could see her in her nightgown, dappled with moonlight.

The heads catapulted over the wall is a horrifying thought and was sometimes done during medieval times, so it fitted in with the story. And the Professor must have seen horrible things during WWI when walking the battlefield.

I was able to take a photograph in our local church at the weekend - there is a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Great War, and my great-uncle's name is there - killed on the Somme and never found. No wonder that conflict influenced Tolkien's life and work.

Author Reply: The great tragedy of war is that so many are lost and then never found again, and no one knows where they go or what becomes of them, not for certain, at least.

And if I can evoke the same imagery as Elven music--now, that is a wonderful accomplishment, and I thank you deeply.

LúmëReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/19/2006
Awwww, sweet! Very vivid imagery in this one, at least I found it so. If I could draw, I'd draw Tribbals dancing :-)

Author Reply: Have found myself a few times trying to capture the image of Luthien dancing and Beren watching her, struck with her beauty and grace; I can see this picture in my mind, but doubt my drawing would do it justice.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/19/2006
You know, this shooting of heads in the City was one of the cruelst ideas in the whole LotR, as far as I am concerned. Don't want to think too much about how terrible it was for the defenders of Minas Tirith to find the heads of friends and relatives. It must be an image nobody is ever able to forget *shudder*

The second half of the chapter was enchanting. Tribbals dancing to Pippin's music, reminding him (and the reader) of Luthien and Beren was a wonderful image. And I loved it that it was just Tribbals and not someone other; so it is somehow more touching.

Author Reply: I understand Tolkien drew the idea from the memory of crossing the battlefield after a firefight, seeing bits and pieces of dead soldiers who'd been hit by mortars or grenades or cut apart by machine gun fire, lying here and there, now and then recognizable as the ones seen going "over the top" in the first rush on the enemy's position. It was a powerful image, and I feel he did well to include it in the book and that PJ did so also in the film. I truly reminds us of the true cost of war, I think.

And, yes, Tribbals should have been the one to do this and no one else--I found she wanted to reenact the enchantment I felt thirty years ago when I watched a young lady with Downs syndrome dancing to "Chavala." So glad it moved you.

ArmarielReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/18/2006
Oh........perfect. I'm just in awe. Original and evocative and wonderful, how do you do it?

~~~{~@

Author Reply: I am so very pleased you like it, Armariel. Thank you so much!

(How do I do it? How did you come to write that lovely poem that's up for a MEFA? Heh!)

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/18/2006
So dreams of the horrible images will come back to haunt from time to time. My father-in-law had been on a small ship in the Pacific during World War Two. My husband said he briefly described memories of attacks, but would never discuss in great detail. And My mother-in-law said that for years after he would wake from nightmares. So lovely that the music associated with the powers of good in his life could comfort Pippin. And the image of the small Luthien was priceless. It is so good to see Mistress Tribbels again! I hope that she knocks on your door often. Those "moon children' are truly special to the Creator!

Author Reply: I suppose my father was lucky that he spent the last of the war finishing his training as an officer, and died when his plane crashed before he could be dragged into the Korean War. My stepdad, however, never spoke of his experiences as a tail gunner during World War II, flying from the deck of a carrier in the Pacific. He was rather too good at putting the past behind him, I always thought.

And that night, with the memories of the horrors of war on his mind, Pippin found the healing magic of the music, and went to sleep with the images of a small Hobbit child and Luthien dancing, enabling him to dream of Frodo whole again, able to dance for him also.

And I agree about our special children and folk being special to the Creator.

Thank you so much, Demeter.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/18/2006
A lovely story. Music is magic :-)

Author Reply: Yes, music is ever magic, and this time has been a healing one, I think. One simple gift from a child brings out the more profound gift of another, and allows easing of two hearts that night.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/18/2006
I suddenly realised that I reacted to the second half of this and missed saying anything about the horror! The art of Sauron that meant that those heads were often recognised by those closest to where they fell has always given me shivers.

Author Reply: Yes, there is horror along with the beauty of it. And Sauron did so much to try to destroy the will of those fighting for the city--I'm only glad he lost in the end.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/18/2006
Oh beautiful Larner. I could just picture every second of this. Lovely.

Author Reply: And the beauty was needed that night by Pippin, and helped fulfill Tribbals, I think.

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