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Comes the moment to decide  by Linda Hoyland 3 Review(s)
Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/7/2007
Just a reply to Phyloxena's good points - I believe that Sauron thought the Ring in Minas Tirith, thanx to Pippin's foolishness with the Palantir, at the time Frodo was actually captured. If Sauron didn't have a clear idea that the Ring-bearer was scampering into Mordor, and from where, even Sauron might not have been able to see Frodo's capture; since he wouldn't have been Palantir-watching that particular area. The Palantiri have to be directed where to look. Of course, Sauron being an immensely powerful supernatural being, he might have been able to direct the stone to look for hobbits. But even if Sauron had observed Frodo's capture; he could not have seen the Ring, because Frodo didn't have it on his person at the time; Sam had taken it.

Denethor did know where to direct the Anor-stone where to look; since Faramir's news had given him (and Gandalf)a very good idea of Frodo's direction.

I do believe that Denethor was going mad during this chapter; but of course he didn't recognize it as madness, everything made a perverse sort of sense to him.

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.

I always thought that Sauron assumed at that point Aragorn and/or Pippin were taking the Ring to Minas Tirith so was not looking in his own lands for it.

I feel Denethor was mad to think of burning Faramir.If he meant it to spare him from Sauron's forces, a dagger would be a far less painful and horrible death.I think Sauron had him obsessed with flame.

phyloxenaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/6/2007
If Denethor could see Frodo, how Sauron could not? I thought the Ring evaded Palantiri (or Galadriel made Frodo invisible). Other than that, very touching. I never could see Denethor as simple as just a madman that night.

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.I'm pleased youfound this touching. I have read in several scolarly essays the theory had Denethor might have seen Frodo captured and he knew he was the Ring bearer whereas Sauron did not, but I agree that is pure speculation.DEnethor is a very complex character.

eilujReviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/6/2007
Very persuasive view of Denethor's reasoning. I especially like the palantír view of Frodo's capture in Cirith Ungol.

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.I'm pleased you enjoyed this.It was both interesting and disturbing to try to get inside Denethor's head.

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