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Healing does take time--but what happens when full healing is denied--when you have the hope it will come, that it IS coming--only to have that hope dashed? Frodo keeps working at it, and keeps working at it, until the illness around the time of Elanor's birth underlines the fact that he is in outright decline. He gave it more than the good old college try. But, as Aragorn said, no sane individual could have gone through what all within the Fellowship endured and NOT have nightmares. They can know peace, sometimes great stretches of peace--and then have it all apparently swept away by a small thing that triggers the memories and the nightmares. Thanks so much for the response given.

Author's reply

No, communication is not what it was, and particularly in the light of the last two months when between them Saruman and Sauron have tried to lay any and all resistance low, only to be brought down themselves. Once Saruman lost the Palantir of Orthanc Sauron lost a good conduit for information on how the free world was faring, and once he was uncertain all of his allies would become uncertain as well. Then to have the month of peace after the fall when messages are going west and north but nowhere else must have driven all in the other lands crazy; and I doubt that Aragorn would have willingly allowed those of the Haradrim who went back to their own lands clearly tell what had happened to those of Umbar as they passed. He might even have used the ships of Umbar to take Haradrim for repatriation home by sea. So, Wasnior is sent to find out what happened to his fleet and why the words from spies have dried up, and whatever other business Umbar might have been sponsoring on their own behalf, and finds the world turned upside down. And, no, no one is good at EVERYTHING; let Frodo have his few independent glories.

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According to Unfinished Tales the original Elendilmir was found "not long" after Aragorn became King--but how long "not long" was is anyone's guess--and I'm considering exploring that one soon, as the Nuzgul won't leave my jewelry box until I do, I suspect.

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Wasnior is going to have lots of chances from now on to wonde about this new King and his court; and is going to insist on more of a say on those who accompany him in the future, also. This won't exactly be his last time seeing Hobbits, but the first time must have been a real mind boggler. And that Aragorn isn't as good a dancer as Frodo--well, NO ONE can be best at everything. That and his telling punch are Frodo's own personal claims to fame.

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The music of the wind on the metal strips sounds gorgeous, and I wish I could hear it. I've stood by guy wires that would vibrate, and many were beautiful to hear, although they can sometimes sound very eerie. But I loved Gentle Hobbit's version of this in The Minstrel's Quest, and was glad she let me adapt it. Most of my stories are told after Frodo has left Middle Earth, and I, too rejoice to have them together in this one. As for the sparring and perhaps a story on the time of Thorongil within Gondor and his changing relationship with Denethor--I've truly considered it. Thanks so much for letting me know you're reading this as you can.

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Yes, here the new King and Wasnior meet for the first (but not the last) time, which is definitely not necessarily to Wasnior's liking. The world has changed, and he's going to have to learn the new rules and players and piece designations. And he and his party have been purposely isolated where they are interacting during the meal basically with those who are (rightly) must suspicious of them, then trying to learn more about the King by watching him lead the first dance. And for a few moments Frodo is free to be himself, dancing and excelling at it while delighting in it, wishing only to prolong it as he can--only to realize he hasn't the stamina to finish even a single dance. And they are beginning to see just how badly hurt he's been by his experiences over the last year, and grieving for it. As for Angrapain, I suspect we all know someone like him, someond so given to self-indulgence at the expense of others we hate him/her in spite of the ties we OUGHT to have with him. And we shall see to what he comes....

Author's reply

Yes, here is one activity at which Frodo does excel, and yet he cannot last out a full dance as yet--and perhaps never again. He is terribly frustrated, of course, and others are beginning to grieve for him as well. That and his infamous sucker punch are two of his claims to fame not even Aragorn can equal, I think. And, yes, I caught the bread and wine, and the prayers for the noble heart. And I still think the trick with the onion is excellent.

Author's reply

Poor Wasnior has only a hint of knowledge of what's happening, and still has no idea what to do about it. He is finding that he no longer knows the pieces in play on the board--they're no longer black and white--we have a number of pieces from other chess sets completely, and he's still trying to figure out which are knights and which bishops, I suspect. And then in the midst are these odd little ones dressed as princes but who look like they ought to be pawns. And accepting that Frodo is not well and isn't going to become well soon is going to tear the other three apart. And Pippin, as the youngest, is going to take the realization that Frodo was too badly hurt very hard, I suspect. Beslor is recognizing that there is something between Eowyn and Faramir, yet Wasnior still wonders if she's married her cousin. During the meal they were deliberately held somewhat isolated, and he's probably feeling a bit too uncertain to try to sound out all these royals who sat about him, while he's not likely to try speaking to Elves or Dwarves. Angrapain may turn out to be a handicap to the Umbarians, but time will tell whether or not this is true. The conversation between Gandalf and Wasnior may come, but I doubt it will come tonight, although they will begin learning identities soon.

Author's reply

Sorry about the isolation of Wasnior--I was purposely isolating him among those he'd feel too intimidated to speak with easily at the first. He will be talking more, until his party is escorted out of the Hall, of course. Am very glad you appreciated the fact I was showing set dancing rather than couples dancing. Not a great deal of dancing throughout history has been individual couples dancing until the last few centuries--usually it has been circle dancing either with little distinction between men and women or strictly sexually segregated or with the men and women in separate concentric circles; or it has been partner line dancing with specific sets of movements; or it has been exhibition dancing such as Morris dancing. The Husbandmen's Dance of "The Ties of Family" is the last type. I figured that in Gondor they would probably do more of the linear set dancing, while in Arnor they'd probably do a mixture, with more tribal kinds of dancing predominant; while in the Shire it's probably a good mix of various kinds, probably including more circular dances in which partners are exchanged. And thank you very much for the constructive criticism. I truly appreciate it.

Author's reply

Yes, I, too, feel with Pippin here. And every few steps forward Frodo makes in his recovery is accompanied by others backwards or sideways. He's not truly well, a fact he is finding very frustrating and perhaps a bit frightening. And am glad you appreciate the description of the feast and of the confusion of the party from Umbar. It's not going to be easy for any of them to understand. Am not certain they might try hobbitnapping; but I, too, feel uncomfortable around them.

Author's reply

Hope you don't mind I deleted the one that accidentally was posted blank. That happens, although over the last couple days I've written wonderfully lyrical reviews and responses and then hit BACK instead of POST REPLY and then beaten myself up. In my previous works I've always described Frodo as one who loved to dance, and here's his first time to indulge himself in years--and then he finds he can't sustain it. That he tires so easily must be exceedingly frustrating to him. And we keep having outsiders, don't we? Well, it adds to the interest.

Author's reply

Thanks, Antane. I've always thought of Frodo as a dancer since the film, where he's cutting a caper between the two winsome hobbit misses. I'd love to have been at this feast just to have seen him dancing in more than my imagination, really. And he deserves to dance.

Author's reply

Yes, a newcomer who perhaps even is unaware of the tales of halflings, much less that there is a party of them in Minas Tirith, who is having to figure out what they mean to the new order. And I'll admit I stole that line about the world changing from Galadriel's prologue--thought it was well worth using here. For all are becoming well aware that the world HAS changed completely, and is in for quite a transition.

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The King should look magnificent for his own Coronation feast, so I wanted to have a proper outfit for him; and of course the rest should also look like the fine lords they are. I, too, usually wear jeans any more, but my shirts are often quite nice--if I can find what I want when I go looking for them. And both Frodo and Sam would try to keep the younger Hobbits out of as much trouble as possible with their families, particularly Frodo, who is so close to Saradoc and Esmeralda. Yet every one of those in the Fellowship had his own contribution to fighting Sauron, and each one was supremely necessary to defeat Mordor. Now they are, as Gandalf points out, all grown up and ready to go back home and deal with the relatively petty stuff that's there. Thanks so much for the review, and hope all is going well with you.

Author's reply

Thank you, Inkling, for the compliment. We try to be perceptive, Faralion and I. I was inspired in part by Joy Chant's book "Red Moon, Black Mountain" and the realization of the chief protagonist, Oliver, of what loss of innocence can lead to--either the choice of destruction or the fullness of acceptance and greater wisdom and compassion. I think Frodo needed to learn that, but that to accept it he had to hear it from several sides. I didn't post today--was busy printing out things I was supposed to deliver to a nearby town, then forgot to leave once I got there. Got through half my errands, I did. Have the mind of a sieve today, I fear. Anyway, that gives you perhaps a little more time to catch up, perhaps a chapter or two, if you read again today or tomorrow.

Author's reply

Faramir begins to have friends and has found love, and the renewed family comes. And he is surrounded by honor and respect, including the honor and respect given by the people of the city, who know and love him well. Am so glad that folk like the descriptions of the garments, seeing I actually described only two of them in depth in this chapter. Obviously it was enough to get imaginations going, for which I'm glad.

Author's reply

According to Unfinished Tales, the original Elendilmir was lost with Isildur's body, and was found by Gimli and Aragorn in a hidden closet in Orthanc, not long after Aragorn became King. How long "not long" might be, of course, might be relative. So glad the showing forth of Aragorn of himself upon the keel has been so appreciated--and I can see the great block party taking place within the city that night.

Author's reply

Yes, responsibility born in the body of a halfling, taking all blame to himself and thus sabotaging himself as often as not. Am so glad you appreciated this exchange and its implications. And I, too, would have loved to have seen those families intact at that feast, with parents and siblings all rejoicing to be together and at the accomplishments of these so-well-beloveds. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Author's reply

I so wish that Tolkien had been more gentle to more of the mothers--allowing apparently all but two of our heroes' moms to have died or withdrawn prior to this date was not kind. But I think that Aragorn's, Faramir's, Eomer's and Eowyn's, Frodo's, and Sam's would all have been busting buttons that night to see their beloved children coming into their own at last--not to mention their fathers, of whom only the Gaffer remained. Sam would ONLY put himself forward, as he saw it, for Frodo and Strider, I think. So glad you appreciated that.

Author's reply

This is one of the great tragedies these folk have known--losing so many dear to them over the years, and only hoping they are watching from the next life to share in the glory of it. Thanks so very much for the feedback.

Author's reply

The movie coronation was nice, but didn't have the great depth of that in the books, and it was the greater depth I wished to reflect. I wished to show just HOW Frodo perceived the greatness of the King, for it's described fleetingly in the books; and I wished to describe it in the terms of the Light of Being as I've pictured it in my own imagination and the books--and so we see the aura of the King shining in Frodo's sight so he does see might and wisdom and the healing inherent in the hands of the King as well. As for Gandalf's small lecture--this is part of the heart of the story--that with living sacrifices the offering of self for others is an everyday occurance and is ongoing; that all that is offered freely in a true sacrifice is fulfilled, not destroyed and consumed as happened in Harad in my version of the sacrifices offered there to Sauron as depicted in "Lesser Ring." Frodo is having to learn not only to appreciate the love the Creator has for him, but how to continue to live that he remains that "living sacrifice"--something Aragorn has been trained in by his foster family since childhood. Aragorn is the conscious hope--Sam and Frodo the unconscious ones. Am so glad you appreciate the intent and symbology of this chapter.

Author's reply

A difference between Faramir and Denethor--Faramir admires, hopes the same embroidrer might do some work for him--and he still has NO idea who that might be!--while Denethor would probably have looked on this and tried to belittle the wearer or the design or both out of his envy and growing tendency toward spite. Yes, Faramir is the loremaster, and Aragorn shows he is as great a one in the discussion of the Star of Elendil, which is partly inspired by the descriptions in Unfinished Tales. And Aragorn will always remain the accessible King, I suspect; and knows that those who cannot see the King will ceast to believe his presence can hold relevance to themselves. So glad you appreciate the robes Arwen sent his way. And I, too, can see Elven styles sweeping the nation of Gondor. As for Frodo possibly wishing to remain--I would think he would have felt torn at times, and in my version greatly because he is recognizing that his physical as well as his emotional wellbeing are both better when he is nearby to Aragorn. And it's fun to have Aragorn taunting Frodo and Sam a bit as well. In the book the only time the circlets for Sam and Frodo are mentioned are in the waking feast in Cormallen; I like to think that these were indeed a sign of ennoblement and recognition, and that Aragorn truly sought to reassure Frodo and Sam that it was okay to be accepting of that ennoblement, a situation so at odds with Hobbit culture. So glad you appreciate it all.

Author's reply

Yes, a nuzgul regarding the Elendilmir has been recently found rifling my jewelry box. And I, too, wonder how Frodo's life would have differed had he stayed in Minas Tirith--although I suspect things would have gone far worse in the Shire had he not gone back and helped restrain the fury of those who fought in the Battle of Bywater and then served as Deputy Mayor in the reconstruction. But I suspect his health would still have deteriorated--just probably more slowly. No hits registered as of this review? Huh! FFN was pretty much not allowing folks to see the story until last night from what I can tell.

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Indeed--I think our current restrictions in dress for men tends to leave them artistically stifled in trying to express themselves with their clothing. Medieval times when colors and robes were more generally worn by men in leisure times must have been far more satisfying for many of them. And the King would have to strike a certain balance between display and taste, I'd think. And I love to imagine Arwen imagining and executing all these fantastic designs and decorations for her beloved. So glad you appreciate it all.

Author's reply

So glad you appreciate it, Katie. Was getting worried, but assumed you must be being kept busy helping with cleanup in the aftermath of the hurricane. Hope all continues well with you and yours.