Andrea
· 5 January 2006
· Chapter 59: 59: Mayor's Wife
Well, that leap in time was unexpected, but it told us a lot about Will Whitfoot and his wife Mina.
It is quite possible that if Fenton and Frodo had come to know each other better, they would have become close friends. But obviously the Creator had other plans for them.
It is also no wonder, that Will had his suspicions when he heard the gossip that Frodo ran out of money and therefore had to sell Bag End. He knew a lot about Frodo and was fond of him, like an uncle perhaps. And he would never have believed those stories!
When Frodo sees Will after all he has suffered in the lockholes, he has simply no heart to deny the job as deputy mayor again. It is not what he would like to do, but he realizes that it's necessary. We know, though that he will never accept the role as mayor!
Author's reply
Hope the change in characters isn't too big of a leap; but I've dealt with the time in Rivendell in "The Choice of Healing" and didn't want to take that further as I think it's about as far as it can go. But we can get more detail here in the time Frodo was deputy Mayor, so I wanted to explore that period in more depth. And I wanted to explore the relationship between Frodo and Mina.
I think indeed the condition of Will caused Frodo to accept the role of deputy Mayor.
Thanks for the response.
That was quick, but so very intricate. And from the POV of a character we hardly know! Wow! I've been thinking of rereading "The Choice of Healing," now I know I'm going to. :-) God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Mina is a minor character in "The Choice of Healing," but I've wanted to explore her story for some time. She pushed and shoved her way in, but now she's a part of this story instead of her own. Rather surprised me when she insisted on inclusion here.
And I, too, have been rereading "The Choice of Healing," which seemed odd today.
Baggins responsibility, Took curiosity, Brandybuck initiative, Bolger intelligence, Boffin love of the land, Proudfoot pride, Chubbs sensitivity--Frodo was the best of his involved family heritage. Add in his physical good looks and the sense of vulnerability that he seemed to carry with him, and he was, Will thought, a natural as Mayor.
That's a marvelous explanation of why Frodo was asked to be Deputy Mayor. Thank you for "filling in" such a wonderful history here.
Author's reply
Frodo was the culmination of so many family lines, after all. And I truly suspect Will had been after Frodo to follow him for quite some time, and have imagined Bilbo also looking forward to that possibility. Glad you appreciate it.
Wow! What a leap in place, perspective and general feel! Just the thing to keep us on our toes Larner. I like the idea of a potential friendship unable to blossom due to circumstance. I have a number of people that I often hold close to my heart but have lost touch with.
Sorry for the quick review this morning but am off to the funeral of one of the catechists here at church. Age 44 and the mother of a twelve year old son. A lovely lady - I shall miss her immensely.
Author's reply
Yes, I can imagine you would--and she is so young for our day and age to have died. Will pray for her and her son and family. And such a similar situation to that which we face in this story in many ways.
The relationships that never had the chance to blossom are often such griefs for the dream of what they might have been. And now Frodo and Mina will have the chance to help one another heal and prepare for what comes next for each of them.
Interesting to see Frodo from the POV of someone other than his closest relations or Sam! And it was equal interesting to see Will knew something wasn't right with the sale of Bag End. Intelligent man, but he wasn't Mayor for nothing.
So it was Mina who got Frodo to accept the office in the end? In light of this chapter it is much easier to understand why she cared so for him during this time.
Author's reply
Certain folk had to know Frodo wasn't destitute, and I think the Mayor would have been one of them, don't you? And I suspect that both Saradoc and Paladin would have wondered what was going on as well.
Actually, I think it was Will who wore Frodo down, but Mina was there as a witness. She's another relative, but not one of those who's been active in Frodo's life; she's coming to see him in ways as a replacement for her own lost son, but at the same time is realizing this is a very distinct individual, and that he has reasons for what he does, both the rational things such as learning Shire law and figuring out how to deal with the mountain of paperwork in the office and dealing with executive questions and ownership disputes in light of Lotho's activities, and the irrational ones such as having to have something to drink on hand or his hand going cold when he's stressed or someone mentions Mordor. And she will help him heal and prepare, I think, as he helps her accept Fenton's loss at long last.
grumpy
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 57: 57: Farewell to the Southlands
So sad the parting of Arwin and her father. I needed one of Sam's handkerchiefs, by the end of the chapter. When Aragorn realizes that he most likely will not see Frodo again.
Author's reply
Yes, it was a sad thing, even in the book, when Arwen and Elrond said their goodbyes, and am glad you liked how I wrote it. And I, too, felt with Aragorn as he said his last goodbyes to Frodo.
Thanks so for the response.
Baggins Babe
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
I've been wanting to review for the last three chapters but committee minutes kept piling up and had to be dealt with.
Spider bites can be a terrible problem - I saw a programme on venomous creatures and there was a woman who had been bitten by a spider nine years before and was still having problems - nerve paralysis, blood problems.........
The doctors were talking about amputation but they still couldn't guarantee the rest of her body would not be affected in time. Considering the size of Shelob and the size of Frodo, it is unsurprising that the venom had such a terrible and long-lasting effect.
I always found the farewells very poignant in the book, and in these chapters they became even more so - that fleeting glimpse of the three sons of Elrond, for example. The description of Aragorn holding up the Elessar stone has always brought tears to my eyes, and he must be grief-stricken, knowing he will probably not see Frodo again.
Once again, I felt as though I was present for all these events.
Author's reply
It was due to a documentary on spider and tick bites I decided to write my story "The Choice of Healing" as I did, and as I've continued in stories since. And I agree--the bite of a creature like Shelob, particularly as the offspring of Ungoliant, would be devastating to someone like Frodo, who was already in depleted condition when he was bitten and went on to worse in the ensuing days, on top of carrying the physical, mental, and spiritual burden of the Ring.
The goodbyes must have been hard for all of them, and am glad you appreciated them as I've depicted them.
Andrea
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
Wow! There was so much said in this chapter that it's nearly impossible to savour it all (is this the right verb? I'm not so sure...)
Instead, I'd like to pick out one line:
“Ah, my dear Frodo, you are such a wonderful mixture of pride and humility that I’m quite delighted to know you, although there are others who find you most perplexing indeed.”
Wise, old wizard! He knows Frodo very well. These are the feelings with which Frodo awoke in Ithilien, and since then have never left him. It's a constant struggle between pride and humility and it leads to the question: Is there a future for me?
Right now the Sea Longing is strong, but also the feeling that something is terribly wrong in the Shire, the feeling of malice!
The latter is the most important now, the first is only a dream to him, for he thinks that his parting with Galadriel was forever.
And he feels the change, but does not comprehend yet the true meaning of it!
A perfect chapter. I'm looking forward to reading more!
Author's reply
Am so glad that so much appears to have been written right for you. No, Frodo has no real idea what his future is to be; and he does have the struggle between appropriate and inappropriate pride and humility to face and deal with. He feels the urgency and is feeling pulled so many different ways as well. He's learning to sort out his own feelings from those of others; and is trying to understand what is happening to himself. Then to learn so graphically on an emotional level what he only knew intellectually before, that Bilbo is mortal and is OLD and will do soon what OLD people do--leave this world for the next--has to be one of the hardest things he can do.
Thanks for the comments.
Bodkin
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
It's so sad to see these friends parting and heading off in separate directions, never to gather together again.
And Frodo isn't helping himself by refusing to take the draught, but Obstinate is definitely his middle name. I feel for the other hobbits, too, who are about to learn (after the scouring of the Shire and things closer to normal) that you can't go back. Water never flows under the same bridge twice, and so on. Somethink, I think, Frodo already knows.
Author's reply
They want their own homes and their own beds--except they probably don't fit their own beds any more, a thought neither Merry nor Pippin has yet considered consciously. And Frodo is going to learn that he OUGHT to have perhaps gotten the recipe for that draught from Elrond while he had the chance.
The world has changed, and they have changed, and they are about to find out that they didn't necessarily change in complementary ways.
Dreamflower
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
The pain of parting grows ever greater for these various friends and family--with each farewell, a little bit more of Middle-earth slips away for us. It is very nearly as painful, I think, to read as it must have been to experience, for we know that things will never be the same, and that the end of the Third Age is the end of all that has made Arda special to us. Perhaps that is the reason JRRT was so sparse in his descriptions of the farewells--if it is so hard for us to read, what must it have felt like to its creator, who had lived with this world for so many years?
Author's reply
I hadn't thought of it in that way, Dreamflower, in terms of how Tolkien might have been moved by his own creations and the ending of their relationships. Thank you for the stimulation to my imagination (although perhaps that isn't all that necessary....)
Thanks so much for the comments.
Kitty
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
*wipes eyes and blows nose* This chapter, and probably the rest of the story, needs a tissue warning, I fear. Even in the books I never got over the partings without crying, and Tolkien told us little enough. Hopefully Sam has enough handkerchiefs to hand out for all of us ;-)
Considering Frodo was meant to be Aragorn’s twin brother, it isn’t so surprising he was able to draw on the Elessar, I suppose. And I fear even without knowing your other stories it is only too true the other hobbits will not or not for a long time understand what had happened to the Travellers. It must’ve been quite frustrating for all of the four, not only Frodo and Pippin.
Sometimes I wonder – if Saruman and his bullies hadn’t had overrun the Shire and the hobbits could’ve returned to an unchanged Shire, could Frodo have healed? I have the impression the troubles in the Shire undid much of his healing. A pity we will never know for sure.
Author's reply
I like to imagine that the experiences he has had have managed to open Frodo more to psychic probabilities and capabilities. We know he was prescient at the beginning of the quest; now his dreams and visions would be more pervasive, I suspect. And I think he would have responded to such things as the Elessar; and there was a reason why he was given the Evenstar pendant as well, that he was seen as both needing it and having the capability of actually using its power. and hopefully for others as well as himself.
And how are those to whom "When the King returns" means "never" going to understand finding Sauron invading ones mind via palantir or the experience of the Black Breath as a result of stabbing the Witch King of Angmar, much less how a small ring on a chain around ones neck can end up weighing as much as if one were trying to drag the weight of Barad-dur itself? And most Hobbits have probably never considered the possibility that Sauron could be a real entity.
Would Frodo perhaps have recovered if Sauron hadn't invaded the Shire? Well, in the movie that's the way it happened, and he still went to Tol Eressea. The feeling of being out of place and the sea longing and the inability to communicate what he went through would still probably have led to the decision to leave, probably.
Kitty
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 57: 57: Farewell to the Southlands
No wonder the hobbits couldn’t sleep in the tower, it’s against their nature to feel comfortable there. And particularly for Frodo it sparks too many bad memories. The only one advantage ist that he was told the story of the battle at Helm’s Deep. He needs the knowledge for the Red Book, and more so because none of the hobbits was there.
Loved the reaction of the Ents to Aragorn! It’s good even they recognize how worthy he is. And of course, it was fascinating how Quickbeam could tell Sam was a gardener.
Author's reply
I think one carer for growing things will tend to recognize another fairly quickly; and certainly Quickbeam and Sam both meet that description. But the Ents would need to know they could trust the new King, I think, and would respond positively as they come to recognize his quality.
Author Reply: Forgot to add that I'm glad you appreciate Frodo's discomfort in the tower of Helm's Deep. I freely credit Radbooks for this awareness from her wonderful story "In Aragorn's Safekeeping", which is available at FFN.
shirebound
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
As the party rode North and crested the next rise the four Hobbits paused and looked back, as did all of the Dúnedain and the sons of Elrond, seeing the green glory of the Elessar shining in the King’s hand; and Frodo felt as if he were wrapped in a mantle of that renewing Light for much of the evening’s ride and most of the next day as well.
You give such a new insight into that scene, which I always loved. What a poignant farewell for all of them.
Author's reply
If the spiritual and emotional relationship I've postulated between Aragorn and Frodo existed, I felt this may well have been how Frodo would find that parting gesture might affect him. Thanks for the comments, and am so glad this moved you.
Amy
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
Ah, another important chapter, with Saruman and Bilbo and the end in sight. It brought tears to my eyes.
Author's reply
I'm not going to end it immediately, though. Hope you'll bear with me, Amy! And thanks so for letting me know you're still reading.
harrowcat
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
Oh, so well done Larner. I never could get my head around the conundrum of free-will vs pre-destination in my Theology course even though I wrote a passing essay on the subject. And it is both good and sad to see Frodo and Bilbo re-united for a time.
Author's reply
God sees us from the point of view of Eternity, and so can see the whole of our lives in one glance, while we must live it within the context of time. God may not wish us to be foolish or to try to steal the Ring held by our neighbor, but if we're going to do it He may well make certain other events make it happen at the best time for our own redemption and for the needs of others. And, as Frodo notes, that is not always a comfortable thought. Don't know what this idea may have gotten from your instructors in theology, but there it is.
Linda Hoyland
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
It must have been dreadful for the Hobbits to part from Aragorn.I shall miss him too !
Author's reply
Yes, it must have been terribly difficult for all of them. And you KNOW how much Aragorn means to me, much less the Hobbits.
demeter d
· 4 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
Here I am late at might again. It is lovely how you blend Galadriel and Celeborn's parting words from the book to Aragorn with more about their concern for Frodo. So Halladan will have the priviledge of directing the re-building of the ancient capital, Annuminas. That, and spreading the word to the whole Northern Kingdom. He is going to be a busy man.
So Peregrin carries dispatches from their new king to the ruling worthies in the Shire and the Breeland! As he told the ruffian in the Shire, he really is the King's Messenger. Our little Pippin has grown up, indeed. All of them having dreams and flashbacks makes the house at Crickhollow seem more and more a good idea. Merry and Pip can help and support each other, and it can be a refuge for the other two on occasion. Interesting that Gandalf told Frodo that Saruman needed his understanding.That gentle nudge no doubt helped prepared him to respond to Saruman when they next met him in the Shire.
I particularly liked Aragorn's request of the older Elves that someone still be there to support Arwen when she loses him. I agree with you, and several other fan-fic authors, that her brothers, Celeborn, and likely Glorfindel stayed behind as a rear guard until ARagorn and Arwen both left Middle Earth. I have enjoyed your explorations and insights in this story. I will not say "hurry and update", as I will miss it when you finish! Best Wishes.
Author's reply
It will go on yet for a while, so don't be too quick to say goodbye to it. Not a LONG time over, I think, but long enough.
But I do think that Aragorn would indeed wish for someone to stand by his beloved when that time comes, and I still like to believe the reason why the limit for the twins to go was lifted from the leaving of their father for precisely that reason.
The unspoken evidence is that all four of them had to fight the effects of their experience, but that Frodo never fully recovered; otherwise, why would Merry and Pippin have gone to the Crickhollow house? And there ought to have been communications between the King and the Thain at the least; Pippin is the most logical person to carry them.
It's fun to explore all the small details that Tolkien left to our imaginations.
I do love that Frodo is getting a hero's attention for something other than the Ring this time. I was glad to see that when everyone rallied around him none of them treated him as if he were ill but all of them talked of how he had protected himself before. Excellent!
Author's reply
Yes, Frodo has shown he isn't just a vulnerable scholar, but has his own capabilities, and all must respect that and be glad at another aspect of his personality revealed. They are finding he is far more accomplished than they'd thought in the last few days. It's always fun allowing a character to show they have more to them than folks had imagined.
Grey Wonderer
· 3 January 2006
· Chapter 30: 30: Mushrooms and Vengeance
Angrapain of Umbar is not as dangerous as he thinks he is nor is Frodo as helpless as others might think! I love it when Frodo defends himself or someone else. I like it when we get to see his inner strength.
Author's reply
Yes, Frodo has depths of inner strength of which others remain ignorant until times such as this. And if anyone deserved the good ol' one-two, it HAS to be Angrapain of Umbar.
Queen Galadriel
· 3 January 2006
· Chapter 58: 58: The Road North
All right, I'm going to try and review three chapters at once here. The farewells in Gondor were very sweet-especially between Frodo and Lasgon. I really feel for Frodo, being angry about being ill and the slowness of the healing that will never be complete in Middle-earth. Poor dear, even the spider bite makes him sick. And this chapter-wow! The farewells between Aragorn and Sam and Frodo brought tears to my eyes, for all they were so brief and without many words. I like how you describe this journey; I could almost believe Tolkien himself wrote it. And the sixth is fast approaching...oh dear. Oh, and I like the bit at the end and how you describe the love between Frodo and Bilbo. Yes, that's the escence of it. Neither would think of himself in his grief for the other. God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
Three at once! Whoo boy!
These three chapters are indeed one long, protracted goodbye between the Hobbits and so many they've come to love and depend on, and many who've come to care for them. That you particularly appreciated the farewell between Lasgon and Frodo is wonderful, for I think the two of them would have developed a close relationship.
Chronic illness is the pits. Have several clients with various conditions, and lived through my husband's last illness, and they will all tell you that there is a lot of frustration involved, as one day you can feel nearly normal, and the next sick as can be, and often no warning you will be bouncing between states in a few moments' time.
For Aragorn, saying goodbye to Frodo if he had any idea that Frodo wouldn't remain long in Middle Earth must have been extraordinarily difficult.
And, of course, for the two Bagginses--each would care deeply for the other, and wish for help for the other before themselves.
Thanks so much for the review!
Grey Wonderer
· 3 January 2006
· Chapter 29: 29: Assumption and Innuendo
LOL I loved it! Every minute of this one was a joy. Frodo may have been caught off guard but he recovered and won the day! I loved his answers and his final reply. Great closing line!
Author's reply
So glad you enjoyed it. Poor Frodo is trying not to laugh out loud at this fool, and is able to do Angrapain one better, much to the Umbari's embarrassment. And glad you liked the closing line as well.
Lily
· 3 January 2006
· Chapter 17: 17: Royal Apartments
It's a joy to finally find the time to read at least one chapter of this wonderful story. I love to see the hobbits through the eyes of others and you do a great job in writing the folk of Gondor - and Aragorn as King. He really is kingly here, and so are the Lord Hobbits, though they themselves might not recognize it.
Author's reply
So glad you are able to read a chapter now and then.
Yes, there is royalty, and then true nobility, and the five of them, Aragorn and the Hobbits, have the latter. Am so glad you like it! Thanks!
Linda Hoyland
· 3 January 2006
· Chapter 57: 57: Farewell to the Southlands
I like the way you explain how Frodo learns the details of the battles to put in his book.
I always find the parting between Aragorn and the Hobbits sad enough in the book,but feel your version will be even sadder.
Author's reply
Well, Frodo had to learn about the battles SOMEHOW to put into the book, and he won't be able to call Aragorn or Gandalf, Legolas or Gimli in later to fill in the gaps, so decided this was as logical a way as any as to how he learned how they were handled.
As for the sadness of the parting, you can judge that in tonight's posting.
shirebound
· 2 January 2006
· Chapter 57: 57: Farewell to the Southlands
Oh, I love how Sam is still pulling little things out of his pack that he's anticipated that Frodo would need. And the whole scene at Isengard with the Ents is marvelous.
Even the Ents, he realized, sensed that in Aragorn was a deep center of grace worthy of the same respect commonly given the Firstborn
Wonderful. And this is such a strong image to end the chapter:
He held out his hands to his brothers, and for a few moments they rode, the three sons of Elrond together.
Author's reply
Well, of COURSE Sam stays true to his nature. He THOUGHT Frodo might need that pen and the paper and the drawing sticks if he didn't have them, and so into the pack they went, once he had his own things in--and mostly practical stuff for himself, I think, other than the bracelet for Rosie.
And am glad you appreciated the image of the three brothers, one mortal and two immortal, together for the moment.
I think I already reviewed this chapter, but here's for Frodo directly:
This is breaking my heart to reach your slow decline. I know what's going to happen and I know I'm powerless to stop it, but I must say something! You are beautiful, darling, and it is such a joy to see you dance so wonderfully. Don't give up! Everyone gets tired if they dance a lot. It doesn't mean they never dance again. The Ring stole so much from you, but you can fight to get it back. I know you are tired of being sick, but don't let that steal what joy you can still have. Please, darling.
Namarie, God bless you, Antane :)
Author's reply
I'm certain Frodo would be touched by the sentiments, Antane. Namarie.