Grey Wonderer · 26 February 2007 · Chapter 24: Deconstructing the Red Book
LOL That was priceless!
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
GamgeeFest's Keepsakes by GamgeeFest
Reviews (456)
Elemmírë · 26 February 2007 · Chapter 24: Deconstructing the Red Book
LOL! This is such a hoot! Honestly though, I rather did enjoy the way Éowyn scooped Merry up onto her horse in the film version and then he says, My Lady. I felt they were protrayed as being more protective of each other in the ensuing battle sequences. It may not have been as suspenseful as in the book, but I thought it just added to their relationship that much more. *must now go and peruse FOTR to see if Tolkien did indeed use 'express train' LOL! ~Elemmírë~
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad this gave you a laugh. The thing about the movies is that it would be impossible to hide the fact that it was Miranda Otto in the armor, so the element of surprise was already ruined. In this instance, reading it is definetly better than seeing it! Express train is most certainly in there! hehe I think Tolkien could have used a beta himself. ;)
harrowcat · 26 February 2007 · Chapter 24: Deconstructing the Red Book
*giggles* I'm one of the first reviewers to nit pick at Authors when 'un-English' (is that even a word?) things slip into fanfiction and I know it is cheeky of someone who doesn't write. I love the way that you are highlighting one or two of the Prof's foibles! It would be great to see more in this vein!
Author's reply
I have at least one more little sketch in mind. :) Perhaps more will come to me as I reread the books again. I actually like the idea that Merry did know Dernhelm was Eowyn, but that he made Frodo write it so that he didn't know, for the element of surprise. Sounds like something Merry would do. ;)
harrowcat · 25 February 2007 · Chapter 23: The Rose
Both lovely GF. My guess was Denethor after the death of his wife.
Author's reply
Thank you, harrowcat! I like your guess. It gives Denethor some much needed humanity. I don't know who could have written it though. I think Elessar's suggestion of an elf the most likely, but any of those suggestions are just as possible.
Grey Wonderer · 25 February 2007 · Chapter 23: The Rose
Lovely. I think you did an excellent job with the poetry. I, personally, enjoy your poems. ; ) The more of these you write the better you get! Bravo!
Author's reply
Thank you so much, GW! I was worried about that first one, so it's nice to have some feedback on it. The poems do get easier to write with each one I do. :)
Queen Galadriel · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 23: The Rose
Oh, how very interesting! The first one does indeed seem Elvish, and the second, while not quite Hobbity, is nearly there, so yes, it does seem likely to be written by a bard of the city. But I do wonder how Sam came by it. Beautiful poetry! God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
My guess is that Merry and Pippin have the right of it - the poem was delivered anonymously to their house and Sam just happened to find it by accident. I think also that Frodo at least must have read it, for it to be lying open somewhere for Sam to grab it and start writing on it. But there's no real way to know for certain. Thank you for the feedback! I'm so glad you enjoyed the poems!
Dreamflower · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 23: The Rose
I love the way you did all the "historical notes"--so very evocative of JRRT's own conceit of The Red Book. You know, it occured to me that the anonymous author could have been Finduilas, Boromir and Faramir's late mother--it has that sorrowful air about it. And both versions were beautiful. Very well done!
Author's reply
Thank you, DF! I think I've been reading too much of the HoME and the Reader's Companion. LOL! But it was fun to try to figure out the history behind the poems and how Sam's children came about sorting it out. That's a good guess. And she did long for her countryside childhood home after moving to the city. I think the case could be made for many possible poets, and we certainly have any number to pick from. I'm glad you enjoyed the poems! :D
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 23: The Rose
An Elf or wizard wrote these, I think. Elrond? Looking at coming once again to Celebrian, perhaps? But one Sam would appreciate particularly, for his Rose, for his Master, for his love of Elrond himself.
Author's reply
Elessar did think it was likely for an elf to have written them, but unfortunately we'll never know the answer. Whoever wrote it, it obviously spoke volumes to Sam, for his Rose and Frodo if no one else.
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
Oh, how very appropriate, GamgeeFest. Yes, the nines have come full circle and the evil done by accepting nine has been undone by the loss of One.
Author's reply
Thank you Larner! Perhaps after some healing and time in Valinor, Frodo will be able to realize it as well.
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 18: Reflections
To have carried that thing so very long as he did. What a great grief it must have been, to realize that with Its loss he had lost to much of his sense of self.
Author's reply
Frodo truly is naked in every sense of the word following the destruction of the Ring. He might have been able to deny it for a while, but eventually the truth of it would be too burdensome for him to bear.
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 17: My Greatest Adventure
Oh, the best of the best, GamgeeFest. Bilbo's tribute to the son of his heart and his favorite cousin....
Author's reply
I do think that Bilbo would have written something to ease Frodo's heart during this time. I can see Frodo reading that poem often in the days and weeks following Bilbo's departure.
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 16: A Valiant Deed
Oh, I love this view of Boromir, and his statement of what truly matters that his father has said. Very wonderful! Yes, we love our Boromir when he's at his best, as he is in this.
Author's reply
Boromir knows how to cut through his father's lectures and get to the heart of things. :) Standing up for Faramir is all that matters to him, and it's easy to see from this how he became so protective of the hobbits later on.
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 15: Limericks
Very cute--and I love Sam's the best.
Author's reply
Thank you! I like Sam's the best also. :D
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 14: The Pippin
I think this one would even get Poe laughing! The Pippin indeed! How hilarious a Hobbit-centered spoof! Poor Eglantine!
Author's reply
I figured if anything in the Shire would be the equivalent of the Raven, it would be Pippin's bottomless stomach! Poor Eglantine, poor cook, poor *anyone* who has to feed him! ;)
Larner · 24 February 2007 · Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
Oh, what a wonderful tale! I see what all the breaks in service have cost me, and am eager to catch up now. Thank you so much!
Author's reply
Thank you Larner! I'm glad you enjoyed this!
RenaissanceGrrl · 25 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
It is an oft-repeated number, and I highly doubt it was an accident--the Nine Walkers were intentionally chosen to mirror the Ringwraiths. ...But I never connected it with Frodo's nine fingers. I applaud you for making the connection, and for having the talent and patience to work in drabbles (which I would find horribly confining; I think we've talked about it before).
Author's reply
With Tolkien, nothing is coincedental. I'm not sure if he intended for the nine fingers to have any kind of connection to the other nines mentioned, but it suddenly occured to me that there could be one. I was trying to make this a drabble and finally had to give up and make it a double drabble. :D Having a limited number of words to work with is a good exercise and helps you get straight to the heart of the piece, but I do have to be in the right mood to work with the limitations.
Elemmírë · 15 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
Wonderful connections, GamgeeFest! Too have so many counted together as "nine" could not have been mere coincidence on the Professor's part. I really like how you wrote this and how it comes full circle, imo. ~Elemmírë~
Author's reply
Tolkien was very particular about his details. I don't believe in coincidences in his writings! Everything he did had a reason. Whether this is what he intended or not, it made sense to me once I saw how they were all connected. Thanks for the review! :D
Pearl Took · 14 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
Wonderful, Gamgeefest! I never made any connection of "Nine Fingered Frodo" and the other 'nines' in the books. Most excellently well done!
Author's reply
It's a rather obscure connection and possibly a bit far fetched, but once I realized what the muses were trying to tell me, it made sense to me. There are so many instances of 'nine', as well as other numbers, that it could not be an accident, not with Tolkien being so particular about his details. I'm glad you enjoyed this! :D
Antane · 14 January 2007 · Chapter 20: The Birthday - Minas Tirith
Nice to see The Birthday being observed in both places and that Aragorn got a look at Frodo before he was so damaged. Indeed *always* loved, hugged and secure. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
The Birthday will always be observed, at least as long as the Travellers remain in the Shire. :) Aragorn never got to see Frodo as a true hobbit, carefree and happy. He might have seen glimpses while they were staying in Rivendell, but even then Frodo was much changed by the Ring and the Quest. I was happy to be able to remedy that. :D Thanks for reading!
Andrea · 14 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
The Wise saw in the remaining, unmarred nine a circle completed. Wow! That was beautiful! I have never made that last connection, until now. It's so obvious and it fits perfectly. I hope that the Wise made Frodo understand that *he* was the one to complete the circle, and thus made him one of them - "Wise by experience" indeed! Thank you :)
Author's reply
Thank you! This was an eye opener for me as well. I don't think I would have made that connection either had the muses not literally dropped this in my lap. Frodo will come to understand his role in everything that happened, and will learn to forgive himself. His is, as you remind us, wise in his own right and once he stops blaming himself, he'll be able to hear the poetry and harmony in the song of Illuvitar. Thank you for reading!
MaidenofValinor · 14 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
Beautiful! I'm probably really stupid, but I never made the connection between the Nine Kings and the nine fingers.... Hahaha. Your writing is absolutely beautiful. Wonderful job!
Author's reply
You're not stupid at all, dear. I never made the connection either, until the muses poked me with it while I was, of course, trying to write a completely different story! It took me a few weeks to understand what they were trying to tell me, and another couple days to figure out how to write it. Thank you for reading! I'm so happy to hear from you again! *hugs*
Althea · 14 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
What an interesting connection you have made with the four sets of nine. The last line is magnificent.
Author's reply
It's a connection that never occured to me until a few weeks ago, when the muses gifted me with this idea. That last line was so uplifting for me, I just had to keep it. I'm glad you liked it also. :D
Periantari · 14 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
Wow how powerful and profound. Very nice take on the number nine in LotR. I really liked this. It's really profound what nine means and that last part about the Ring-bearer did kill me... but in a good way. ;) Good job!
Author's reply
Tolkien is very particular about so many things, and it seems to me that he repeats numbers for a purpose, even if we don't know what they are. This is just my take on what 'nine' might have signified. Frodo had a hard time of it, but it is clear he truly was meant to have the Ring, as Gandalf once said. :)
Lindelea · 13 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
O lovely! I hadn't made that connection before.
Author's reply
Nor did I, until this little bunny showed up on my doorstep a few weeks ago. I've been trying to figure out what to do with the little guy, and this fic finally developed. :D I'm glad you enjoyed it!
shirebound · 13 January 2007 · Chapter 22: Nine
Oh my, that's quite impressive, Gamgeefest. I love the "circle completed" in the eyes of the Wise.
Author's reply
Thank you Shirebound! In an odd way, it was uplifting to know that Frodo's suffering served a grander purpose. There's no doubt to me that he will be healed in Tol Eressea. :D