Reviews (317)

Author's reply

Checking email daily? Yeesh, I'm sorry. Some of those updates were pretty far apart. You know, before I even started posting, I had about four chapters written (and the rest outlined). I didn't want to write myself into a corner or forget to include some bit of crucial information in the early chapters. Now that I've gone through the process of writing and posting an entire story, I can see the attraction of having the whole thing done before publicizing any part of it... yet the lure to post can be very strong. I had planned to write even more chapters before starting to put this story out there, and in the end, I couldn't resist. I really wanted to know what other people thought. I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed the story so much. I do plan to write something else; the question now is what. I've got a few ideas, and I need to decide which one to focus on. I don't know if I'll be as fond of them as I was of this - everything just came together so well, in my opinion - but I'm sure I'll enjoy the process. I really like writing about the Fellowship (and Sam and Legolas, of course, both of whom have become real favorites of mine over the last two years). Thanks again, and I hope to see you a little later on!

Author's reply

Thank you very much, harrowcat. If you've found the story to be satisfying and engaging, then I've met at least one of my goals. And I hope that some of my new ideas develop enough to fashion something interesting out of them!

Author's reply

Thank you so much, Althea. You've been an incredibly faithful reviewer; there are certain people that I always look forward to hearing from, and you're one of them. I'm very happy to hear that you found the story to be satisfying, because that's just what I wanted it to be. I'm always wishing I could find more stories that satisfy me as a reader, and while there are definitely some good ones out there, there aren't enough. It's impossible to slake the thirst. I'll miss writing Sam's and Legolas' budding friendship, that's for sure, but it feels right to be finished with the story. Besides, I can always revisit them in the next one. I hope I can come up with something good; I've got a few ideas, but only time and a couple of chapters will tell how well they'll pan out.

Author's reply

I am sad to see the story end, too. It's my 'creation', and a great deal of effort went into it. Yet the story has been finished in my head for a long time now, so it's a relief to finally have it all out of there and onto some paper. Besides, I haven't been able to focus on coming up with new ideas while working on this (too distracting), and I'm looking forward to that. Please, do read the story again! :) It will probably feel different when read all at once as opposed to piecemeal. I tried to put some layer-ish touches in, which may not be very apparent when each chapter comes in such episodic fashion (and with such long breaks in between). I do plan to write more LOTR stories, and I hope that you find something else to read. I know what you mean about wanting something to look forward to... and having a hard time finding it. Thanks again for all your kind comments. It's been wonderful to hear from you so often.

Author's reply

No worries - I don't remember, either. I recognize your name, but after a while it's hard to remember who said what and where. Thanks for letting me know that you enjoyed the story!

Author's reply

Hello, ziggy! Sorry I didn't reply to this right away, although of course I read your review back when you left it. I'm sorry you had trouble getting it through; I would have loved to read your original comments, I'm sure. It gets tiring having to repeat yourself. Actually, I often type my responses in a separate document and save them; then I can copy and paste and reply to a bunch of reviews all at once. And if there's a problem, I can just try again! Your comments about Sam were interesting to read. You're right about my take on Sam's difficulty in accepting gratitude. Legolas might have been worth the sacrifice, but it was the kind of sacrifice that Sam will be paying for for a long time. I also think you're right about evil. Evil pulls no punches; ignoring it won't defeat it. It must be resisted, and this often requires a loss of innocence. Isn't this just what happens to Frodo? He plays a huge role in the defeat of evil in Middle-earth, but it comes at a great personal cost. Over the course of this story, I was most interested in exploring how Sam handled the circumstances he found himself in. Yes, Legolas is used to the darker ways of the world, but Sam isn't. Oh, and I like the bit of Legolas' and Sam's journey down the river (before they meet the Men) as well. The image of Sam turning into a complete chatterbox as he loses his shyness is a sweet one!

Author's reply

Thank you for the review, lovethosehobbits! It's great to hear from readers (though I admit that it's easier to read positive feedback than criticism. I hope I handle both all right.) :) I am glad to hear that you've enjoyed the story. Truthfully, I wrote it for myself - this is the kind of story that I wish I could find more of - but if others can take enjoyment from it as well, then so much the better!

Author's reply

Hello, Althea! Alas, it's the same old line from me - I'm sorry for the late reply. You were one of the last reviewers for this chapter and I just didn't get to it... but I did much better this time around! Now that I'm about to post again, I'm tying up all the loose ends. :) Glad you liked the chapter. I, too, like to see the Fellowship together, enjoying a few peaceful moments. They're such an interesting group to write and observe!

Author's reply

You’ve hit it exactly, Dreamflower! You are such a perceptive reader. I love how you’re able to see right to the heart of this story. Sam is willing to die for Frodo, but he wasn’t prepared to have to kill other people in defense of those he loves. He’ll do it, obviously, but not without sacrificing something precious. Fortunately, Legolas realizes the weight of his obligation. He can never really repay it, though, because he can’t undo what’s been done and he can’t replace what’s been lost. (In one draft of the chapter he said something about Sam having ‘paid’ for his life, but that language was altered.) I do like the passage where Sam tries to downplay the magnitude of his actions and Legolas pleads with him to accept his thanks. It just feels very real to me. Sam is still refusing to face what he’s done, because it means facing the fact that he has broken an unspoken code of the Shire, and Legolas is showing more honesty than he’d do with anyone else in the Fellowship at this point (except Aragorn, perhaps, although the idea of a pre-existing friendship between those two is a conceit of mine. Tolkien gave us so little backstory for Legolas that it seems as likely as not.) I just love Sam and Legolas together, and writing their developing friendship has been a joy. You’re absolutely right about their newfound bond, which is born of mutual suffering and sacrifice. I didn’t think that they could go through such circumstances and not wind up being tied together by them.

Author's reply

One of your favorites? Aw, thank you! I blushed when I read that for the first time. :) I’m so, so glad you told me; it means more than I can really say. The story has been fun to write, but it’s been lots of hard work, too. The only reason I’ve been able to stick with it through the difficult parts is the knowledge that other people were waiting to see how it turned out, and they couldn’t just skip the end like I could. I had the feeling that this chapter might be more up the alley of hobbit-lovers and h/c aficionados than most. This is probably as close to h/c as I’m going to get. I have to admit that when I think of the phrase “h/c” I don’t think of good things. Most stories that are labeled as such are too sugary-sweet for my liking (or are far too sadistic during the ‘h’ part). I like to keep things realistic. Hobbits do seem to be much more emotional than the other races, but they aren’t children. I tried to avoid giving Legolas some kind of omniscient knowledge or understanding of the situation; he knows what it’s like to kill for the first time, but he doesn’t know what it’s like to have killed someone while holding to the belief that such an act is wrong. He does understand that Sam thinks this, though, and therefore sees Sam’s act as a great sacrifice on his behalf. As far as the ‘self-critical’ comment goes, I’m not sure that I agree with your assessment (though I could have misunderstood it!). I didn’t think that Legolas was overly critical of Sam (or vice versa). On the contrary, they were each willing to absolve the other of any guilt they might feel over their supposed failures. Legolas saw failures in his choices and actions where Sam only saw that he had tried his best – and no one can do more than that. Sam saw a failing in himself when he briefly considered telling Garan what he wanted to hear despite the fact that he chose not to do it. I thought that in such a situation, with their lives and the secrecy of the Quest riding on their decisions, they might be inclined to be self-critical. Besides, I see both Sam and Legolas as being inherently good, and those sorts of people accept no less than the best from themselves. Glad you liked the bit with Frodo and Sam. :) I thought hobbit-lovers would enjoy that. Sam is feeling much better at the close of this chapter, and perhaps just a bit euphoric. Frodo’s disapproval was his greatest fear and that danger has passed. He won’t be feeling quite so over the moon in the morning, because the initial rush of joy will have faded (though he’ll still be feeling happier). The fact remains that he killed someone, and regardless of the fact that he had the best of reasons to do it, he still believes that hobbits shouldn’t kill. He’ll have to live with that, and he hasn’t quite reconciled himself to it yet.

Author's reply

Hello, Larner! I am sorry that it took so long to get this chapter done, but it just – didn’t – want – to – happen. I’m glad that it hasn’t been completely forgotten, although I’m sure that I must have lost a few people. You can’t take a four-plus-month hiatus and expect people to be hanging around at the end of them. Anyway, I’m glad to hear that you liked the chapter. I’m a little bit sad to be nearing the end, but I’m excited, too. Finishing will give me the freedom to start working on something else. I do have a couple of ideas rolling around in my head! :)

Author's reply

Greetings, cookie! I’m glad you liked the chapter. I didn’t personally find it riveting, but if other people did, so much the better. Maybe it’s just because it’s taken so long to write; I know every line pretty well by now. I would have liked to have posted the last few chapters much more quickly because the action has been mostly dispensed with. Talky chapters can move slowly, and I don’t want the ending to feel like a let-down. Glad you noticed Sam’s mercurial emotions and Legolas’ occasional bewilderment. As far as they’ve come together, they still don’t always speak the same language, and I wanted to reflect that here. It’s also not easy to just up and move on from something like what Sam has experienced. He feels loads better now, but he’ll have demons to wrestle with for some time.

Author's reply

Hello again, Rona! You are as faithful as Sam - at least, when it comes to reviewing. :) I am honored to hear that you have enjoyed the story so much – really honored. My aim has always been to write a quality story that would leave its readers feeling satisfied, and perhaps dealt with a few larger issues beyond the basic struggle to survive. Sam is really a very straightforward character in many ways (his steadfast loyalty to Frodo defines him), but that doesn’t mean that his character arc is black and white. I think it’s intriguing to think about how he would handle situations like this one, when he is required to make decisions that are far beyond the normal hobbit’s experience. Yes, there is only one more chapter left. Part of me is regretful, but a larger part of me is eager to finish. I will miss the story, but since I already know how it’s going to end, my creative energies are clamoring for another plot to work on. I’ve got a few in mind and would like to be able to apply myself to them!

Author's reply

Glad you liked the chapter, Gamgee! Sam does feel a lot better now, and I’m glad. He’ll never really be the same again, but then, everyone in the Fellowship comes out of the Quest fundamentally altered. Poor Sam was too conflicted about what he’d done to be able to realize that none of the hobbits would blame him for taking drastic action to save a friend. He had good reason to be worried, though. Hobbits really don’t act the way he did - but then, they’re almost never faced with making those kinds of choices. I’m very happy with the way this story has worked out. Choice and consequence was one of my major themes from the get-go, and I do feel as though the point has been made. Sometimes there’s no easy out of a situation and all we can do is make our decision and live with the result. Funny how life seems so black-and-white when you’re young, but as you grow, you see how many shades of gray there really are.

Author's reply

Thanks for dropping by, Aelinmir! In answer to your question, Legolas is going to (temporarily) use Aragorn’s bow in place of his own. In one of the earlier chapters, Sam was commiserating with him over the loss of his weapon, and Legolas stated that he would try to fashion a new bow once they had rejoined the Fellowship. And that’s just what he’ll do! Glad you liked the story, and yes, I’ll finish it. I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to get that last chapter done.

Author's reply

Hello, harrowcat! I’m with you on confession being good for the soul. I don’t think Sam would have been so worried about telling the whole story if he didn’t feel so conflicted about what he had done. It’s been such a harrowing (ha ha) experience that he’s been unable to look at things objectively. Of course Frodo and the others couldn’t blame him. How many hobbits have had to make the kinds of choices that Sam has faced? Anyway, it’s good to have Sam feeling a little more like himself again. He’ll never really be himself again – none of the Fellowship will, not once the Quest is over – but he’s making a return to normalcy. I also have to say that I’m glad you pointed out Sam’s thoughts on friendship as a favorite part. I suppose I was a little heavy-handed in making the point, but that was one of my major themes in this story. :)

Author's reply

Hello, Lamiel! It’s always nice to find reviews from you; they never fail to give me something meaty to respond to. I’m glad you enjoyed the chapter. I was a little worried about it, because it took so long to write (the best chapters seem to come quickly and easily) and it’s been ages since the last post. If I’d had my druthers I would have been able to put it up right after posting its predecessor. A talky chapter isn’t a very exciting update after everything that’s come before. As far as Brund goes, yes, he’s still a loose end, but I already know what’s going to happen to him – as I should. Sam’s practical to wish him dealt with, but it’s hard for him to reconcile that against the morals he’s always held. When this story was taking shape in my mind, I realized that it was going to be primarily about Sam and how he dealt with the challenges it raised for him. The need to kill in order to stay alive is one of them. Sam is really a very innocent character, and his single-minded devotion to Frodo is proof of it. Fortunately, Frodo is aware of what a treasure he has in Sam. I thought it ought to pain him to see his friend’s heart bruised by the choices he has been forced to make. He sees Sam as his responsibility and feels guilty, but it’s not his fault that things happened as they did. Sam might have come on the Quest for Frodo’s sake, but he made the choice himself. Even knowing what he knows now, he surely wouldn’t change his mind. You know, I also have wished for a version of LOTR where the Fellowship wasn’t broken for precisely the reason you stated: I love this group together! I always wished that that portion of the book had gone on much longer. Still, I’m looking on the bright side; Tolkien gave so few details of the trip between the major stopping points that it leaves plenty of fodder for imagination. One reason that I wrote this story was because I wanted to read it, if you know what I mean. I wish I could find more quality stories with the Fellowship as a group. There are some really good ones out there, but there aren’t enough. I suspect there won’t ever be enough to satisfy me. And yes, I do have a few other story ideas! It might be a little while before I’ll be able to post any of them because I’ll want to have significant portions written before I start making them public. I’ve found that this helps me to avoid writing myself into corners, and it also gives me some room to finish up the end while posting the beginning. Obviously it can take me a while to crank out a chapter depending on what’s happening in the rest of my life! :) Thanks again for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon!

Author's reply

Hey, Ziggy! Sorry, I didn't realize you'd left another note. Good news. I'm posting the next chapter RIGHT NOW! :)

Author's reply

Hello, Ziggy! Wow, you’ve read the story twice since the last posting? Dang. That reminds me – I need to re-upload pretty much all of the chapters. The changes I have made are mostly small and cosmetic, but they are improvements nonetheless. One thing I have noticed upon multiple re-readings is that I tend to get wordy, and I have excised some sentences that didn’t impart any new information. You’d probably have to be me to really notice the difference, though. I am sorry that I have not updated recently! I am aware that time is passing, and I don’t like it to take so long, but this chapter is experiencing some growing pains. There are three reasons for this. First, I’ve had some trouble nailing Sam down. He’s such a jumble of thoughts and emotions that sorting it all out into a coherent narrative has proven to be difficult. Second, I’ve had a few other story ideas rolling around in my head, and I’ve had to take some time to write out the scenes in question to avoid losing them. All throughout the writing of this story I have avoided thinking about other potential tales – I didn’t want to get distracted from the task at hand – but now that the end is in sight, it’s nearly impossible not to let my imagination go a little. Finally, life has been very busy! I know I’ve been saying that with just about every new chapter uploaded, but that’s because it’s true. When I started the story I had more free time in all areas of my life. I think that my mind is being used more now than it was then, so I have less energy to spend being ‘creative’. It’s kind of funny – I really enjoy reading my own writing, so I am annoyed by the fact that the story hasn’t been finished yet. I want to read it, too! I know I’ve said this in replies to other reviews (perhaps even one of yours), but here it is again: it’s sometimes hard for me to find the kinds of stories I want to read, so I’ve been writing what I wish I could get more of. My favorites aren’t solely Fellowship stories, but I love the Fellowship as a whole, and I was always sorry that they had so little time together in the books. I wanted more writing between the time the group set out and when it fractured. I gather from your comments that you are enjoying the characterizations. Writing from nine different points of view has helped me get to know the players better, more so than I can really express. Some have been very difficult (Gandalf) and some have been very easy (Sam), but the experience as a whole has been nothing but enjoyable. I think the best fan stories are the ones where the characters have depth and aren’t there solely to engage in action or angst. You mentioned the scene where Pippin faces off with Gandalf. I like that scene, too. Pippin is often written as stupid or incompetent, and he is anything but. I think the movies really got him wrong that way. When he’s angry with Gandalf, he’s seeing things in black and white: Merry’s life is priceless, and Gandalf chose to jaw on with Garan instead of just putting an end to him. Pippin failed to see that there was really more to the situation than just what he saw, and this is not a fatal flaw. We all see the world through our own lens. Pippin seems to be the sort of person who thinks with his heart rather than his head, but his intentions are always for the best (and his head will catch up as his age – and the Quest – progress). I also see Pippin as gutsy, which I was intending to illustrate with this scene. Surely he wasn’t the only person to wonder what Gandalf was blathering on about, or why he chose to do nothing to help Legolas on the clifftop, but no one else dared to call him on it. About Legolas. In many ways, this character is a quasi-blank slate. Tolkien didn’t give us much information about him, but what we do know has led me to draw some inferences. He’s a warrior out of Mirkwood, so he ought to be a skilled fighter. Elrond wouldn’t have sent him to represent the Elves if he wasn’t. As far as the whole ‘prince’ thing goes, I’ve chosen to leave it as a secondary aspect to his character. I can tell that this adds to his appeal for many Legolas fans, but Tolkien made little but a passing reference to it, and Legolas never plays the ‘royalty’ card. When he objects to being blindfolded outside of Lothlorien, it’s on the basis of his being an Elf, not who his father is. Though his birthright surely factors into just who he is and why, it has little bearing on this story save for his value to his captors. Legolas was smart to conceal his full name from Garan, and he was right to guess that of all the Fellowship, only ‘Boromir’ would have meant as much to the Men as ‘Thranduil’. But I am digressing! Despite the sea-longing Legolas declares that he will stay in Middle-earth for Aragorn’s sake, and he and Gimli forge a rare friendship, one that draws a Dwarf all the way to Valinor. These two pieces of information alone make me think that Legolas was unusual among the Elves. Opening himself to such bonds with mortals must have resulted in a great deal of pain and sorrow when they had passed on, but he obviously thought that it was worth the price. Tolkien does not say much about Legolas’ (or Gimli’s) relationships with the hobbits after the Quest, but I have always assumed that the circumstances they endured would have made them all lifelong friends. If Legolas was willing to entwine himself so thoroughly with folk other than Elves, then he must have been possessed of a brave heart and a kind soul. In fact, this is something that everyone in the Fellowship seems to have in common. I did want to comment briefly on your thoughts regarding Legolas’ reaction to the news that the Fellowship (through Gandalf) deliberately opted not to help him in his hour of need. He was certainly disturbed by the news, but he could not have been wholly surprised. He was surprised to learn that they had seen what happened, yes, but not that they had decided not to act. He’s been around the block enough times to know that lives must occasionally be sacrificed for the greater good, and that there are some situations that can only be resolved painfully. Still, you are right – it is one thing to know something objectively and another to experience it. Who could ever be comfortable with the idea of being a sacrificial lamb? Knowing that Gandalf may have made the best decision for Middle-earth could only give Legolas so much comfort, especially considering the bitter end he was headed for. He definitely avoids thinking about the subject, and turns to wondering how Sam will take the news. At some point he will have to make what peace he can with it. So there is my very long-winded response to your review! I am spending time on the story, just not as much as I would like. I am going to try to put more effort than usual into it in the near future – you know, make some real progress. I have to thank you for your comments, Ziggy. They were intelligent and thoughtful… just the kind that I like to get and respond to. I’m very glad to hear that you have enjoyed the story so much. It warms my heart to know that something I’ve put so much time and effort into is giving other people pleasure. Yours is the kind of feedback that gives a difficult chapter new life! ~ I.B.

Author's reply

Hello, vaske! Thanks for your review. Lucky you - you have come in at the very end of the story instead of having to read and wait like everyone else. I am so glad to hear that you like the relationship between Sam and Legolas. It has been very enjoyable to write. I also hope to finish soon; though it has been a while since my last posting, I have been working on the next chapter. It's just not coming very quickly. Sam is such a jumble of thoughts and feelings right now that it has proven difficult to get the chapter, as a whole, to jell.