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A Lesser Treason  by Jay of Lasgalen 11 Review(s)
PeriantariReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/23/2006
I really like this story and am glad that i remembered to go back to it. It's interesting what images Elrohir saw for himself had he taken the Ring. This last chapter was very interesting to see Elrond's point of view about it and i love the dialogue that you have regarding whether or not it was Elrohir's own will that prevented him from taking the Ring.
Also, mentioning other Fellowship members and whether or not the RIng would be talking to them during the journey South is interesting indeed.
Perhaps you can write a story regarding how the Ring lures LEgolas? =)
Great story. I really like it...and i rarely read Elf stories too. :) I really like your Elrohir.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/8/2006
It must have been very difficult for Elrohir to confess this. It was over, after all. But he was brave to see that others needed to know of the ring's power. Great ending, Jay.

Author Reply: I see the elves as very honourable - Elrohir simply couldn't pretend nothing had happened. It wasn't just the need to warn his father.

I referred to this very last night at Imladris in another fic, and it seemed the perfect way to end the story. Thank you - I've missed you, and your reviews!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/31/2005
Good for Elrond! He knew just the right questions to ask to make the key point apparent - Elrohir had heard the Ring, been tempted and rejected it. Which requires far more strength than not being tempted at all.

But they must all have been desperately worried about sending it off with a load of temptable people in the Fellowship. It gives a whole new meaning to sending Merry and Pippin - representatives of a race that had been seen to stand up to it far better than the more powerful. And Gimli's race seems relatively indifferent to Ring-power - but that leaves two men, an elf and a wizard who could fall for its wiles.

And - oh dear! 'this would likely be the last time the five of them would ever be gathered together'.

When you think how extremely unlikely success would have seemed - and how Arwen must have known that the four males with her were quite likely to fall in battle before the end... and that they knew that their improbably success would mean her eventual death. Very sad.

But Elrond's family is very good at seeing the tragic outcomes - and doing what they must anyway.

Author Reply: When the point was hammered home, Elrohir could see the difference between being tempted and refusing - and the difference between refusing and being prevented. It took Elrond to wield the hammer, though.

It was interesting to look at each member of the fellowship and think how the Ring might work on them - I felt that Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas would be the most vulnerable, as they had the most to lose and/or gain.

I used the scene of the five of them meeting for the last time here once before (in 'Till Death Us Do Part'). It seemed a good place to end this story, but they all knew that the chances they would ever meet again were very, very slim :(

NilmandraReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/30/2005
I was glad to see Elrond talk Elrohir through the difference between overcoming temptation vs falling to it. All are tempted; it is how one responds that is important. I am sure Mithrandir, Aragorn and Elrond, perhaps even Glorfindel at the Fords, were wall tempted as well. Preparing themselves for the moment, but I liked the verse that suggest that knowing it is coming does not make its arrival expected.

Author Reply: I'm quite sure that Elrohir wasn't the only one tempted by the Ring. Galadriel was; Boromir was - who else?

I was reading the end of the chapter 'The Mirror Of Galadriel' again, when Sam tells Galadriel 'You'd put things to rights.' That's how I envisioned Elrohir being tempted - but as Galadriel says, 'That is how it would begin. But it would not stop with that, alas!'


KittyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/30/2005
Very good - Elrond reacted as I had hoped! And he saw at once what Elrohir obviously didn’t – the one important point was that Elrohir refused the lure of the Ring at his own free will and not because Sam interrupted him. I am very glad Elrond was able to convince Elrohir of this and to relieve him of his feelings of guilt. My respect for Elrond has risen even more after the way he handled this. He was right, Elrohir fought a battle and won it.

That was a very interesting and fascinating plot bunny!

A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to you!

Author Reply: Poor Elrohir was so confused at this point that he didn't see the very obvious point that he didn't do it. It took Elrond to make him see sense.

Thank you for the good wishes - and a happy New year to you as well!

LiannaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/30/2005
That was great. Elrond is so wise, yet he knows that even he has more to learn -- thus, his questions to Elrohir about the ring's strategy.

And I loved the analysis of how the Ring might tempt other members of the Fellowship. How difficult it must have been for Elrond to realize that diplomatic considerations required the inclusion of a Dwarf, yet any Dwarf who might go would be a mostly unknown quantity. And I can see how the Ring could tempt Legolas; indeed, he might have been second most vulnerable after Boromir.

I suspect, though, that after all that discussion, Elrond would feel like punching a hole in the wall in frustration if he could overhear his son's thoughts at the end of the story. When Elrohir says that he "would not fail again," he seems to still be thinking that he did indeed fail this time. But didn't Elrond just spend much time and many words trying to convince him otherwise?

Author Reply: Elrond needed to know everything he could about the Ring's strategy, so he could assess its danger and its risk to others in the fellowship. When I tried to look at it through his eyes, I realised that Legolas and Boromir would be most vulnerable - and we know poor Boromir fell victim to it.

I didn't really intend to make it seem that Elrohir was still thinking he'd failed. He'll always blame himself a little for being tempted in the first place, but he knows the important thing is that he didn't succumb. He was just thinking that with his new knowledge, it wouldn't happen again.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/29/2005
Very well done! Elrohir is strengthened now by his trial and resistance; he has faced his fears and hopes, and sorted out the truths and the lies. It was good that his father and brother were able to help his over his initial shock and revulsion at what he had been tempted to do.

That is something many people fail to realize: that being tempted is not the same as falling. They are so repulsed by the image of what they are thinking of, that they fail to realize their strength in resisting, and feel guilty for things they never did.

An excellent and insightful story.

Author Reply: Thank you!

Yes, at first Elrohir was so appalled at what he'd thought, and had nearly done, he believed others would hate him for it as well. It took all Elrond's skill and understanding to convince him otherwise. He needed to realise that it was his own inner courage and strength that saved him - nothing else.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/29/2005


Lovely...

Elrohir told of what occured and his spirit was lifted in this trial he overcame. His father said he endured a battle and great courage and he did...

Perhaps this will make him stronger person....


Loved it!!!

Author Reply: I needed Elrohir to see what strength and courage he displayed in renoucing the Ring, and Elrond was the only person who could do it. I think he'll come from this stronger, and more aware of the dangers of temptation.

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/29/2005
I think the thing I liked best about this chapter was the idea that if Elrond had forced healing on Celebrian, she would have been compliant but empty. In Tolkien's world there is no silver bullet, no easy way to achieve real good. It always requires some sort of sacrifice.

That the ring had actually maneuvered Frodo and Elrohir to meet in secluded spot with a convenient cliff was quite chilling. You really created a strong impression of the ring as insidious, unrelenting evil. Thank goodness you ended it on a warmer note, with friends gathered together and the twins reconciled. Thanks for a good read! ~TF


Author Reply: The more I thought about Elrohir's desire to heal Celebrían with Vilya, the more I realised it wouldn't work. Mental healing like that must come from inside - it can't be imposed by another.

Also, the more I thought about the Ring, the more I saw it as a separate entity, quite capable of working out that if it could overcome an elf, there would be so much more potential than a mere hobbit.

As much as I like angst, I always try to end on a happy note - because I love my characters really!

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/29/2005
Great ending. I don't have time to write more, but I did want to let you know I had read and enjoyed it.

Author Reply: Thanks for taking the time. Any review is better than none - and I'm glad you enjoyed this.

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