elliska
· 28 February 2006
· Chapter 60: Dragon's Gold
Hehe. I honestly like Smaug. I have The Hobbit on tape and the fellow reading it makes Smaug sound like my grandfather, so he just doesn't come across as scary to me. I like the image of him here all snug on his treasure and secure in his power. Little does he know what's coming.
Author's reply
I love dragons, so always had a soft spot for Smaug. I think this is not long after he drove the dwarves out, so he had his treasure for a little while.
I know what you mean about the sound of a voice conveying character. In the film 'Dragonheart' the dragon was supposed to be evil - but he was voiced by Sean Connery, and I just couldn't see him as bad!
Bodkin
· 27 February 2006
· Chapter 60: Dragon's Gold
I wonder why dragons like lazing around on piles of gold and jewels. I mean, it can't be comfortable! Might it be some kind of child-substitute? - Not many dragons = not much mating = no eggs. Like broody chickens nesting on china eggs. Or people who dress their chihuahuas in ruffles.
But it'll never hatch!
Author's reply
Smaug is like a miser - he doesn't need the gold, he can't use it; he just wants it, and no-one else can have it.
Or people who dress their chihuahuas in ruffles. I feel so sorry for those poor dogs! They've become fashion accessories, poor things. It's cruel.
Kitty
· 27 February 2006
· Chapter 60: Dragon's Gold
It was his, all his, and no-one would dare take it from him. Well, even dragons aren't always right, aren't they? *eg*
Author's reply
Well, 171 years passed between Smaug descending on Dale and Esgaroth, and the events in The Hobbit. So he had his hoard to himself for a while before Bilbo came along!
Faye
· 28 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
Noooooooooooooooo.
Goodness, I know this is AU, but still, I want them to be together so this is too sad.
Author's reply
*Sniff* I know it's sad. Believe me, it was sad to write! I had to keep telling myself it was AU.
Larner
· 24 January 2006
· Chapter 59: On The Slopes Of Orodruin
And if ONLY that had happened then----
Author's reply
It would change a lot of things, wouldn't it? :)
Larner
· 24 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
Yes, a good pair of thoughts IF they did part. I can see this, each thinking the other more optimistic.
Author's reply
I liked putting in similarities such as that. Even when they make different choices, the twins are still thinking alike :(
Bodkin
· 23 January 2006
· Chapter 59: On The Slopes Of Orodruin
Other seminal moments.
Melkor asks to be let out of jail, because he's learned his lesson. Manwe takes one look at him and says, 'In your dreams'.
Loads of Quendi on the substitute, we-haven't-invented-boats-yet, boat of Tol Eressea. Olwe and Finwe stop and say, 'We really can't go without Elwe, chaps. Do you mind if we hang on until he and the rest of the Teleri turn up?'
Miriel decides she won't snuff it after giving birth to Feanor.
Morgoth destroys the Trees. Feanor comes rushing down to offer his Silmarils as a possible way of solving the difficulty.
Turin Turambor actually listens to somebody for once.
Author's reply
*LOL*
Other plot-changing events:
Finwe - "I could never marry again!"
Feanor - "But I don't want to be a jewelsmith. I want to be a weaver like my mother."
The Hobbit - Gollum wins the riddle contest.
This is fun!
Kitty
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 59: On The Slopes Of Orodruin
I have to admit, that is the sort of AU I love to read! Much better than the last. Only a pity this isn't true!
Author's reply
It would have prevented years of anguish and battle - but there'd have been no Fellowship, no quest, and no LOTR.
Bodkin
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 59: On The Slopes Of Orodruin
And while part of me says, 'If only....' the rest is demanding what would have happened to the story - and how would the world have turned out under those circumstance!
Possibly years of glory followed by the decay of civilisation and the return of barbarism. Seems to be fairly customary in such circumstances.
Author's reply
I was thinking about the scene where Isildur ignores Elrond when he urges him to destroy the Ring. What if he listened? One tiny act would have changed the entire history of their world - and there'd have been no LOTR for us!
Raksha The Demon
· 22 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
Thank the Valar that this is AU! (I personally believe the twins waited until their sister died, then sailed into the West) But still, very well-written.
I'm going to go find a handkerchief now.
Author's reply
Yes, it's AU. I couldn't really separate the twins, could I? It was sad enough just thinking about this! Like you, I think they waited for Arwen, then sailed - both of them.
Kitty
· 21 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
Jay, that made me cry! To be honest, the thought of Elladan and Elrohir being separated forever is something I don't even want to *think* about! I have always seen them much closer than Elrond and Elros were and it is unimaginable for me that they didn't make the same choice. I am glad this is only an AU and Tolkien never said *this* did happen! It is bad enough he was so nebulous about their choice at all. As you, I believe they sailed in the end, having been allowed to delay their choice at least until Aragorn and Arwen have been passed away.
Well, *if* they had chosen differently, it would probably have been this way around, at least for your twins. Althougt I'm not sure Elrohir wouldn't have faded in the end without his brother.
Author's reply
This is AU in my own universe, never mind Tolkien's! Like you, I think that E&E were much closer than their father and uncle were.
In this drabble, I think that at the end, each twin realised they'd made a terrible mistake - but it was too late to change anything. That makes it even sadder.
Bodkin
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
It's all your fault, Bodkin!
Sorry.
I think they could have chosen differently - but only if they had found love such as Arwen found with Aragorn. Because, inevitably, their bonds to their wives would weaken their dependence on each other.
But I am glad this is AU. I want them to be happy!
Author's reply
The interesting thing to think about was what would be so attractive about either elves or mankind to make the twins make this momentous decision. If either married a mortal wife, it would change everything.
Lianna
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
Please, please say that this is AU. I so want them to make the same choice -- whatever that choice may be.
But perhaps this division between them is realistic. It's such a difficult choice, and they are two different personalities. Perhaps they would make different decisions. It's just that *sniffle* it's so sad to see them parted.
:-(
Author's reply
Yes, it's AU - at least as I see it. I firmly believe that they chose the same fate, and both sailed in the end. But they *are* different characters, so perhaps this is a possibility.
Bodkin
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
Poor twins. This would be a cruel division for them. I can see the difference between them - but I hate the idea of them choosing different fates. Very sad.
Author's reply
This was sparked by the ending of your last chapter, when Elrohir waited so patiently for Elladan to reach his own decision. I began thinking 'what if they *did* make different choices?'
I've always written the twins as different characters, but both certain that they would choose the same fate in the end, sail, and stay together. This is a sad exception. It's all your fault, Bodkin!
docmon
· 20 January 2006
· Chapter 58: A Final Farewell
that was a heartwrenching pair of drabbles. I like the ambiguity of the speakers - at first at least. I'd ask, just to be sure, but I don't want to spoil for anyone reading a review first!
Wonderfully done!
Author's reply
The speakers are Elrohir, then Elladan. I don't really believe the twins would have chosen separate fates, but if they did, then it would have been this way round.
elliska
· 14 January 2006
· Chapter 57: The White Tree
I love the idea that Gandalf had a hand in seeding the tree that he later led Aragorn to find. What a clever idea and a great drabble!
Author's reply
I got to wondering how the tree got there, and how Gandalf knew. After that, it was obvious! Glad you liked this.
Bodkin
· 7 January 2006
· Chapter 57: The White Tree
A very likely scenario. Very likely. Especially considering that the White Tree seems to have a character of its own - rather like a living dowsing rod for regality. A nice icy pocket of earth and it can sit and wait out the Long Winter, while the Stewards rule in the White City.
Author's reply
The White Tree does seems rather ornery - it produces a seed once in a blue moon, which will germinate perhaps hundreds of years later. It doesn't seem a good policy for efficient reproduction. It's a bit like pandas.
Larner
· 6 January 2006
· Chapter 57: The White Tree
And how long did it take to bring the one to find that seedling where he'd planted it so long before? Lovely.
Author's reply
Gandalf's a long-term planner. He knew the king would return one day, and this was a way to guarantee there would be a tree to symbolise the renewal.
Thank you so much for reviewing so many drabbles at one go!
Larner
· 6 January 2006
· Chapter 56: Battle Beneath The Trees II
Ah, wonderful battle, and as appropriate for the Forest of Green Leaves as for a schoolyard or a park.
And he'll lead them to his last missile!
Author's reply
I think the courage and determination young Thranduil shows here will stand him in good stead when he fights the shadow of Dol Guldur.
Larner
· 6 January 2006
· Chapter 31: An Uneventful Journey
Yes, no danger after the lives they've known WOULD seem boring, wouldn't it?
Lovely.
Author's reply
I think Legolas and the twins seem to thrive on danger!
Larner
· 6 January 2006
· Chapter 29: Temptation
And I can certainly see the Ring using just these arguments against Legolas's resistance. Traveling through the wild with It by his side and to keep that temptation under control must have been as difficult for him as for Aragorn.
Author's reply
I'd forgotten about this drabble when I wrote 'A Lesser Treason', but it covers a lot of the same areas. I think many characters would have been tempted.
Larner
· 6 January 2006
· Chapter 27: Why?
I thought I'd reviewed this one before, but perhaps not.
A wonderful examination of Thranduil's fear for his son, who may well not return from such a journey as he's undertaken.
Author's reply
Poor Thranduil - he must have had very little hope that Legolas would return to him. You can understand his initial anger.
Sad, perhaps, but full of the promise of what is to come when they are reunited again.
Author's reply
Some people have taken this to be when they are reunited - but it's much earlier, perhaps when the twins were conceived. Again, there's room for different interpretations, which I love to hear.
Larner
· 6 January 2006
· Chapter 25: Precious
And worthily written for the challenge at that. Alas, poor Smeagol and Deagol both.
Author's reply
Gollum was the first character I thought of for 'Greed'. It was ... interesting ... writing from his POV!
Larner
· 6 January 2006
· Chapter 24: The Houseless Ones
When even an Elf is concerned about the houseless dead, it's time to move on. And I can appreciate his grief and fear of them, and the unvoiced pity.
Author's reply
I wrote this one Halloween - I had ghosts on my mind! After thinking about the implications of the Houseless Ones, I used the idea again in a chapter of 'Along Came A Spider'.