Andrea
· 1 April 2005
· Chapter 5: Questions that Need Answering
I really like your characterization of Paladin in this chapter (and in the review comments). His whole world has been turned upside down! But he must understand, that this is also true for the four travellers, who have just returned. They relied on the Shire to be save and unchanged. They were looking forward to come home, but what did they find? It will take time for them to speak and Paladin should be patient. But I'm not sure, he's able to do so.
So, I'm very curious, what will happen next!
Author's reply
No, I doubt he'll be too patient, either. Sorry it took so long to get chapter six uploaded today--it's been full of coughing and fighting the lingering effects of the flu.
Kitty
· 1 April 2005
· Chapter 5: Questions that Need Answering
That isn't going to be easy for the Thain and the others to face all the changes they don't truly understand, and then the travellers won't talk about their experiences. It is a difficult situation - the travellers aren't able to talk, and the others aren't able to understand without knowing everything. Very interesting chapter, Larner!
Author's reply
Does make it a vicious circle here, with the family left up in the air not knowing what to make of everything.
Glad you find it interesting.
Kitty
· 1 April 2005
· Chapter 4: Deputy Mayor
And I thought the redtapism here in Germany was bad! It seems Hobbits are much worser *shakes head* Although I think it is quite amusing how they include all the generations everywhere.
Isembard has got something to think about, hasn't he? It is probably good he overheard this conversation.
Author's reply
We are dealing with Hobbits and their love of family trees and so on. I'd think that this would be important to them.
Red Tape is a horror here in the States as well--believe me!
Thanks for the feedback.
shirebound
· 31 March 2005
· Chapter 5: Questions that Need Answering
How fascinating to see how the hobbits can -- and still cannot -- speak of what happened, and how the story is only coming out in bits and pieces. Paladin and Saradoc and marvelously perceptive and persistent, and doing their very best to discover the truth without causing too much pain. Amazing story.
Author's reply
I think Saradoc is as you describe, but suspect Paladin is facing major confusion as he tries to accept and yet reject the truth at the same time. It's not going to be easy for any of them.
This is a sort of accompaniment to the last few chapters of For Eyes to See as Can--there is a dinner detailed there in the chapters Family Problems and the Cost of Victory that describes the final acceptance of what happened by Tooks and Brandybucks; it is less fully described in The King's Commission during the first evening Ruvemir spends at the Great Smial.
Dreamflower
· 31 March 2005
· Chapter 5: Questions that Need Answering
You do such a wonderful job of showing the consternation and confusion of our lads' loved ones, as they try to understand what happened while they were gone!
The reactions of bafflement and anger ring so true.
Author's reply
I found myself sitting in Paladin's chair. Here he is, in a country just barely freed from occupation by a group of strange Men, he and his folk have struggled mightily to keep these Men out of Tookland for months--and in walks Pippin, demands and gets archers with no time for explanations, and he finds himself absolutely flabbergasted. What is going on here? Then in less than a day the Shire is free of the Men, and Merry and Pippin led the freeing as if it were nothing.
He wants to blame Frodo, but in his heart can't--he knows the younger Hobbit's nature far too well, knows he's THE most decent Hobbit around. He's then presented with a world turned on its head--his Shire isn't just his any more--all of a sudden it's part of a greater realm called Arnor and Gondor combined, and the one bringing him the King's Dispatches isn't a great warrior--it's his own son, who isn't even of age yet!
Then he's asked to believe Frodo went to Mordor, that his cousin Bilbo's stories are really true, that his darling Pip-Lad is now a soldier--and he can't bring himself to accept it all, for to do so means he has to let go of the images he's held for this past year of his son coming home as he left, and the same for the others; but instead he finds himself faming adults who have changed priorities over the past year, and whom he hasn't been able to protect. That must hurt most--that he couldn't have protected them.
Ariel
· 31 March 2005
· Chapter 5: Questions that Need Answering
Oh, how heartbreaking! And so terribly believable. I can see my Frodo, who is very book, (while movie!Fro is darling to look at, he is no match for the book Frodo) coming out in your tale. He's the one I have always loved. Oh, thank you for this!
Author's reply
I can almost see movie-Frodo here, too; but you are right--this is more book Frodo.
Glad you find it believable.
Ariel
· 31 March 2005
· Chapter 4: Deputy Mayor
Still a very enjoyable piece. It's so nice to have a story one can just read without stumbling over odd characterizations and fanon assumptions and conventions you aren't familiar (or in agreement) with. I can't tell you how refreshing that is!
Author's reply
Oh, I'd love to know what some of those assumptions and conventions are you are talking about--other than the assumption that since the movie portrays Legolas as Aragorn's friend, they must have known each other well beforehand--although there's nothing to say otherwise, either. I certainly know what you mean about the characterizations, though. Have run into a couple that set my teeth on edge. Thanks for the feedback.
Dreamflower
· 30 March 2005
· Chapter 4: Deputy Mayor
*grin* Frodo helped draft the documents from the King. Why does that sound familiar, LOL?
Seriously, this is wonderful! I loved the description of hobbity legal papers, and Frodo's request for at least six lawyers!
And Isembard's overhearing some of Frodo and Sam's conversation is really going to give him food for thought.
Author's reply
Oh, I AGREE I reference other folks' fanfic--seems to add to the feeling of it all being interconnected--although I have a LOT more than a single document being delivered to the Thain.
I think that a great deal of the reaction of real people to the stories our heroes have brought back would be unwillingness to accept that such things could happen anywhere. Hobbits have been overwhelmed by ruffians; are they really going to understand wraiths on wings, rains of heads, and such? It's all going to strain their credulity a great deal, I think.
This is going to be the most major stumbling block they will face until the Hobbits of the Shire begin "coming into the Fourth Age"--if you take my meaning.
shirebound
· 30 March 2005
· Chapter 3: Degradation
"No, maybe one day, but not yet. Nor is the Shire ready for someone who isn’t a land holder to stand as Mayor, not yet, and you know it.”
Very perceptive reason for why Sam only became Mayor later on.
Author's reply
This, of course, has been consistent with governments throughout Europe--those who held property were the ones who held power and authority; while peasants had no political say of any kind.
Even in the US at first only property owners could vote.
Thanks for the feedback.
Ariel
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 3: Degradation
And what a treat to find another chapter waiting for me! A good tale still, and credible in all your 'fillins'. Eagerly waiting for more!
Author's reply
Am so glad you are finding it credible. This will be MUCH shorter than the King's Commission, btw. Am trying to post a chapter a day again--have it all written out except for the last two chapters, which are in progress.
Dreamflower
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 3: Degradation
Wow! This already promises to be as good as "The King's Commission". I am so impressed with the way you handle Frodo.
The descriptions of all that they found in the Shire in this latest chapter, and of how they dealt with it is so completely canon, it's like you are just restoring parts that might have been cut for length, from the original!
Author's reply
Again, I am happy to find my stories are seen as consistent with Tolkien's own writings. Thank you for the vote of confidence! Thank you, Dreamflower.
Ariel
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Trip Home
This is a wonderfully fulfilling and delightful story! Like a page from the book we didn't get to read. These are my favorite types of stories - the ones I can get lost in and just read... Thank you for sharing this with us!
Author's reply
I hope you continue to find it delightful--a lot of it is pretty sad, I fear.
But I am glad you find it a consistent gap filler.
harrowcat
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Trip Home
Oh Larner, thank you so much! I have just come back from a few days with my parents. Computerless and suffering withdrawal symptoms. My Mum has M.S, is severely disabled and is prone to nodding off too. So to come back to two chapters of your story was wonderful. I often suspect her of the same habit of eavesdropping. You had me smiling through my tears.
Author's reply
I am sure my mother-in-law did this, too.
I sorrow she has MS, and hope it is not too terrific a burden for her.
Armariel
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Trip Home
Lovely, sweet....Bilbo especially......keep going, please! Anxious to see the next part soon. I don't usually read serials until they're done with because so often the authors take forever to get to the next part and leave me hanging until I've forgotten what happened in the last...but, well, I just had to dive into this one!
cheers
Armariel~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thank you for giving this one a try, at least. Hope you continue to enjoy it.
Bilbo does return to the story, of course, as he seeks to help Frodo fully accept, but the next parts are focused more on Frodo and Sam.
Kitty
· 29 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Trip Home
This is a wonderful beginning for your new story. It was quite interesting to see it from Bilbo's POV. He is truly a dear old Hobbit, it is touching how he tries to held out a bit longer not so much to pass the Old Took but to help Frodo. And it is touching as well that Elrond and Gandalf now will stay longer for Frodo's sake.
By the way, I was happy to see your reason for Elladan and Elrohir to staying in Middle-Earth over the departure of their father. After all the fanfictions I've read about them I love them quite much and I had always thought it must have been something like this, to be there for Arwen and Aragorn. Tolkien said it not absolutely clear, and I can't stand the thought they chose mortality. It would be much too cruel to their father to lose all his children after all he has done and suffered over the years.
In another point you have exactly written what I thought - it had to be Gandalf to contact the Valar about the fate of the twins and the ringbearers. After all he is a Maia.
Can't wait for more!
Author's reply
From here on the POV changes, is more Frodo- and Sam-centric.
I doubt that the twins would have chosen mortality, but I suspect they'd have considered it a time or two. I have them on the very last ship with Cirdan himself, btw, in my other fics.
But I think, if you will, that Gandalf learning about the decision regarding the mortal Ringbearers would be the result of an incoming call, where he was temporarily drawn into his true self by the news needing to be delivered.
Tolkien left a lot of details unstated in his work, which is why we are all here, reading and writing so many alternatives from this group's imaginations.
lwarren
· 28 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Trip Home
*sniff* I'll jump right into my favorite parts of this chapter.
Sam and athelas and Elrond's complete surprise at Sam's ability - "...he has an affinity for plants...plants will give him what he needs of them." How very Sam that statement is!
Bilbo's comment that the Creator prepared Sam for Frodo and the Quest and the comment "I suspect he's been intended as the staff to Frodo's feet from the beginning." How true is that and what an apt comparison!
The 3 brothers of the heart - enough said!
And the part that seriously made me cry - Gandalf's communication with that in himself that came from the Blessed Realm, Elrond's awe in seeing it, and the news he received...all three Ringbearers may come and the sons of Elrond may linger as long as they will to comfort Arwen, choosing their own time to take ship. Wonderful! "Yet the decision came from beyond the Valar. HE filled them with HIS Light. HE would have them back in HIS presence, but not with that Light wavering or weakened." If I didn't already love this story, I would love it for that statement alone!
Lastly, Bilbo the 'possum! I would imagine he would hear all manner of interesting tidbits while "dozing"! :-) I love also how Elrond, Gandalf and Galadriel will delay taking ship for Frodo's sake! (and I caught Gandalf refering to the fact he can't stay any longer for Aragorn or risk becoming like his brother...Saruman, if I remember correctly.????)
Lovely, lovely chapter, Larner!
linda
Author's reply
Actually, the brother I've always envisioned Gandalf as grieving for was Sauron. Manwe and Melkor became the opposite ends of the spectrum among the Ainur and Valar; I see Olorin and Sauron in the same relationship among the Maiar. The stronger the being, the greater the fall if and when it comes. Just think of what Melkor or Sauron might have done had they not fallen to the craze for power over others.
And I believe that the Creator would have His creatures fulfilled before they return to Him, not have them still remembering primarily the pain they'd just known.
Sitting in a semi-dose and listening would be preferable for someone like Bilbo, I always felt, than falling into full sleep and missing out on great chunks of information and conversation. Not quite an opossum, more like the sloth slowly advancing on the unwary bug that mistakes slow movement for immobility.
Glad this feels right to you.
lwarren
· 28 March 2005
· Chapter 1: Waking
Well, Larner, I'm not sure why I am so overwhelmed with the "wonderfulness" of your new story, what with my experiences with Ruvemir and all...:-)
...but this is wonderful, and it's going to be very sad, I fear. Still, there were places of humor sprinkled throughout this first chapter, so about the time I teared up about something, you made me laugh about something Bilbo would say or do.
Dear Bilbo...I am dealing with a sleepy mom right now in a nursing home (and hospital about every 3 weeks or so), so I know his frustrations! You ought to hear my mother complain! :-) His little run-ins with Elrond and Arwen were very funny, and threatening to tell Aragorn that Arwen had slept with him before making it to Aragorn's bed was priceless! Dear, naughty Bilbo! LOL
I thought the quartz worry stone an interesting detail - you never stop to consider what the physical loss of the Ring would do to the Bearer...Bilbo or Frodo. It was terribly sad to think of Frodo constantly reaching for the Ring, and suffering with it gone. Arwen's Evenstar pendant provided a measure of relief for him...I'm so glad she gave it to him and started the process of his acceptance to the Undying Lands.
I thought this line particularly wrenching..."With the power of Elrond's own ring cut by the destruction of It, there was little left in the air of Imladris which could get through the hollowness of Frodo's heart caused by the SCOURING of the Ring." There were several other places you noted how Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, and even Aragorn would effect some comfort for Frodo - but nothing ever lasted...it was always only temporary. Of course, this would drive Frodo into that helpless, hopeless, frustrated rage that made him say he wished he had died in Mordor. So much pain...and you write it so clearly, explaining (like I said before) the little details I never paused to think about before.
I must say I love the idea of once more getting Frodo to relieve some of his anger by writing. And Master Tumnus...I loved it! THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE is the first novel I read my third graders every year! The next thing I do is make them write in journals (about 15 minutes every day) and you would be surprised (or maybe NOT) how many start out with "I can't think of anything to write. I can't think of anything to write"....although they get tired and draw before the 76 times! I'm glad Bilbo has thought of a way to to persuade Frodo to "write it out"...truly he knows his lad!
A wonderful beginning! Thank you for sharing again! :-)
linda
Author's reply
Remember, I, too, teach, and have read some interesting journal entries--and did some very creative things to relieve my often self-imposed boredom as a child.
And you are the second to note the origin of Tumnus--was tempted to change the name, but knew Lewis would love it, even if Tolkien would be affronted.
It was heartbreaking watching both my own and my husband's mothers and then my husband as well as they went to their rests, the lack of coherence and all, the fighting of it, the relief when they did rest for a time. But we still found that their senses of humor would kick in in extremely quirky ways, which helped us accept that they were still there, if you understand what I mean.
Have seen several ex-smokers with different kinds of cigarette substitutes, including worry stones of some sort to keep hands busy when no longer involved in lighting cigarettes, so adapted this to the Ring. The pebble in Bilbo's pocket I introduced in For Eyes to See as Can, by the way, so it's not exactly a new feature in this story.
I find it's often the little details that I wonder about, which is why I suppose I tend to explore them in my own writing.
Thanks again for the review.
shirebound
· 28 March 2005
· Chapter 2: Trip Home
My goodness, what an amazing story. I was fascinated by your interpretation of what happened at the Ford, and how Gandalf communes "with that within himself that came from the Blessed Realm". And Sam's destiny, and...
Just lovely.
Author's reply
We aren't given much idea of what Frodo experienced at either the Ford or in the shadow of Weathertop on the return journey, so I let myself imagine what he might be perceiving, using Lindelea's perception that Frodo might be suffering from heart failure as a starting place, but also remembering he'd been spider-bit as well. The realizations on how a spider bite can lead to paralysis, some forms of neurological, skeleto-muscular and arthritic degenerative conditions and so on many years down the road have been eye-opening, and have helped spawned the Nuzgul I found under my bed.
How would Elves be aware of the grace granted to the mortal Ringbearers as well? It seemed to me it would most likely be through either Gandalf or Glorfindel, who is also partways in the Blessed Realm already according to what Frodo was told after he described what he'd seen at the Ford. However, as the Maiar were created as servants and messengers, I truly felt that Olorin just might be rewarded for his service by being allowed to deliver this most wonderful of messages.
As for Sam--he's always been destined to support Frodo, I thought.
Bodkin
· 28 March 2005
· Chapter 1: Waking
I love this Bilbo-centric view of Frodo.
(And the way Frodo wrote 'I am writing in this journal.' seventy six times is great. As is the patience of Master Tumnus in giving him the time to start expressing himself in his journal.) (Master Tumnus, the faun?)
Author's reply
Well, the two of them, Lewis and Tolkien, both sparked my own creativity and were friends. I only hope Tolkien isn't spinning in his grave to have a character in part sparked by Lewis's work, which he disparaged in life, after all, included in Middle Earth.
As for the first journal entry, I was again remembering some of the absolutely inane things I myself did when I was younger when unwilling to follow directions and had bored myself silly.
Glad you liked the idea.
Ariel
· 27 March 2005
· Chapter 1: Waking
So many spot on characterizations! Beautiful! Wonderful to see! I am still reading but this one is good enough to take offline where I can devote my full attention to it. Thank you for writing such an engaging story!
Oh, Sam knew it was true deep down in his heart, but he was consciously pushing down that knowledge, clinging to the belief that Frodo was fine, that he was healing nicely thank you very much, perhaps in hopes that the strength of his desire for Frodo to be well would make it so.
This is just SO Sam…
He’d realized that seeking to pass up the Old Took was as vain an ambition as had ever been devised by the minds of mortals of any kind; but he knew Frodo needed some sign of permanency, something to hang onto while his own person was still in turmoil.
And this is exactly how I always thought Bilbo felt. Wonderful characterizations! Thank you again!
Author's reply
Tolkien wrote these characters so well that so often we can see them in our imaginations as if they were having a dialogue with us, which is what I'd found myself dreaming of the night before I started writing this one.
This particular Nuzgul is apparently rather happy to have found a home and expression. But I swear I will get the one who keeps putting them in the hollow beneath the bed.
shirebound
· 27 March 2005
· Chapter 1: Waking
What a refreshing idea, to show all this from Bilbo's point of view! I already can't wait until Chapter 2.
Author's reply
Sorry, but you will find viewpoint shifts frequently. Hope you don't mind. But the first two chapters are definitely Bilbo's.