Reviews (317)

Author's reply

Hey there, cookiefleck. You're not the only one to give me a push. It's amazing how quickly two months can go by. Chapter 12 took forever because I had to walk away from it a few times (it just wasn't coming well), but I think this one's taking a while mostly because it's long. I've been working on it since the last posting, and it's just a hair under 9000 words at present. I might even hit 10,000 words before I finish it, but it's hard to say. If you want to know what's going on at the moment, Sam is doing some 'splainin and I'm doing some rereading/revisions. I already know how I want this section to end, and that's the next step - to get to the end. Pretty much everything else in the chapter has been written. And then I get to decide who gets chapter 14 - probably either Sam or Legolas. It's been a while since we heard from them. Usually I know well in advance which POV a chapter will be from, but now that I've gotten through all nine members of the Fellowship (Pippin gets chapter 13), I'm back to repeats. Anyway, thanks for the 'hello'. I hope that it won't be too long before I post again!

Author's reply

It sounds like you've been having computer troubles, then. I'm sorry to hear that, but congratulations on being back online. I am glad to hear that you are still enjoying the story. My pace is much slower now than it used to be, but writing continues to be a pleasure. I hope that the next chapter will be up before long!

Author's reply

To be fair, there was a lot of thinking in Merry's chapter and less talking. The next chapter is more talky, so we'll see how it goes. That chapter with Legolas and Garan squaring off is a bit messy in places; there was a lot that I was trying to cram in there. I had the things they were saying to one another plus what Legolas was thinking about the things they were saying. I haven't gone back to try and clean it up yet, and while I'm sure it will probably always seem a bit stilted to you, it could be tidied a bit. As near as I can tell, Wimpy Frodo comes from the movies. They contain an awful lot of slo-mo shots of Elijah Wood's big, big eyes. I think that people sometimes forget everything about Frodo except for those select shots. Anguish! Anguish! Anyway, the new chapter is definitely coming along faster than Merry's did although they're not rolling off my fingertips in the manner of those middle chapters. I still love writing the story, but it's just happening at a more measured pace. Chapter 14 is up to 7000 words, though, so it's getting there! And since you came to chapter 13 so late, you don't have to wait as long as everyone else. :)

Author's reply

Glad you found the chapter, Ariel! I always like it when I look up a story I'm following and find a new chapter. Unexpected treats are great. Will say more in my reply to your second note.

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It's coming, it's coming! I'd estimate that the next chapter is about half done at this point.

Author's reply

Thanks, aya_shoru! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I'll get the next chapter done as quickly as I can.

Author's reply

Hello there, Nightwing! I must say, it’s nice to hear from you once again. I’ve got to admit that I always look forward to your comments very much, but as we all know, life happens. It’s really very generous of you to review every chapter – and to do so at such great length. Glad you liked Merry’s perspective on things. It’s hard to comprehend just how horrible it would be to have the responsibility of saving the life of someone I knew and cared about. I am certified in CPR, but I do hope that I never need to use the training. Back in Aragorn’s chapter, he left his own fears unvoiced and did his best to bring hope to the rest of the company. He still feels the need to do that even though the others really are holding up well, all things considered. It can’t be easy for him to know that he’s done everything he can, and that all he has left to do is wait. Wait for death, wait for life – wait for the Men to come. Tough times. But Merry and Gimli did see through the front, and now the caretaker is being taken care of… just a little. Yes! I agree with you about Boromir’s fall resulting (perhaps) from the fact that he never spoke about the Ring’s influence on him. It’s such a shame that he didn’t talk to someone about it. If he had, he might have found out that he wasn’t alone, and he would have had someone to share the burden with. Another member of the Fellowship might have helped him to see with clearer eyes. Thanks for saying that you liked Legolas’ waking-up scene. Ever woken up the day after something awful has happened, only to suddenly remember the occurrence and realize (with sinking heart) that it wasn’t a dream? Or been unconscious for whatever reason and had the bizarre experience of coming back around? I haven’t had those experiences many times, but that’s what I was thinking of. It’s such a disorienting feeling for a time – and then everything comes rushing back. I imagine that it would be especially confusing to wake up in a strange place, surrounded by people that hadn’t been there before. Legolas happened to be conscious enough to notice when he and Sam were separated in the river, so he was remembering his failure – and believing that Sam had drowned. I look forward to writing the resolution of the conflict between Garan and the rest of the Fellowship. You’re right – Gandalf would totally squash Garan like a bug – but everyone else in the Fellowship has it in for him, too. I’ve got plans for Garan.

Author's reply

So glad you like the story so much! I hope that everyone who’s reading feels a little better knowing that I’ve cleared the air on the topic of story abandonment. Maybe this sounds weird, but I really enjoy going back and reading my own writing. If enough time has passed since it was first put down on paper, it all feels new again. In a way, I’m as eager to read what happens next as anyone else could be – even though I know what’s going to happen.

Author's reply

Welcome, Glory! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the story so far, and hope you continue to enjoy the rest of it. Thanks for the kind compliments!

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Hello, cookiefleck! It’s great to hear from you again. I’m so glad that the story still seems ‘real’ to you. I have loved writing the growing friendship between Sam and Legolas. Heck, I just love the Fellowship and the very idea of all these folk of different races coming together to forge bonds and resist evil.

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Welcome back, lovethosehobbits! I’m glad that you liked Boromir’s actions. He’s not a bad guy; he was blinded by his own good intentions, but the Ring needed time to work on him. It’s a pleasure to show him in a favorable light. I understand how it can be hard to review. I’ve been trying to be better about that, myself, in large part because I’ve learned how important feedback is to a writer. It does take time. I can’t bring myself to leave a half-baked review, not when I see what treats people like you leave for me. Thanks for deciding to drop in!

Author's reply

Hooray! I haven’t lost Bodkin! I always look forward to reading your reviews – so insightful. I’m happy to hear that you liked the bit with Boromir and his cloak. The poor guy gets a bum rap, I think. I do like the idea of him as an essentially good man who yearns to save his people. Sadly, the Ring can use even the noblest of intentions to evil ends. And you’re so right about Merry and Pippin needing to know what that Ring is trying to do! How much easier it would be for the Ring to work on their minds if, out of shame, they kept silent and tried to fight alone. Dratted thing, indeed.

Author's reply

Thanks, Dairwendan! I’m glad I haven’t lost everybody. I was afraid I might since it had been so long, but there was nothing to be done about it. The chapter wasn’t finished until it was finished. I’m so pleased that you liked Boromir’s actions. That was one of my favorite moments in the chapter, too. There’s nothing like a little danger to make everyone pull together.

Author's reply

Heh – I’m guessing that you’re DarkStar, going incognito (sort of). I’m not sure what was going on at ff.net but it seems to have been fixed. Glad you liked the chapter! I’ll try and make the next update come a little quicker.

Author's reply

Hello, Althea! It’s great to be back, and it’s great to hear from you again! I’m pleased that you liked the chapter. I must confess to some uncertainty as to how it would be received, which is usually the case when a chapter isn’t born smoothly. This one had its parts chopped up and moved around a few times before I was satisfied with it, so it’s been Frankenstein-ish in my eyes. Merry was a little tough to nail, but once I got a handle on him I did enjoy writing him. I thought that Aragorn might have logically chosen him as a helper. Pippin probably doesn’t seem steady enough, Frodo wants to be at Sam’s side, Gimli doesn’t like Legolas, Boromir’s already worn out, and Gandalf… well, it just didn’t seem right to have Gandalf playing assistant surgeon. :) It was interesting for me to explore Merry’s backstory a bit, too, and to think about how he might have learned what he knew. Hooray! You’ve singled out the individual reactions of all the members of the Fellowship! This story is really about Sam more than anything else, but I’ve done my best to make everyone visible and real. My favorite stories are those where all the members of the company are interacting with one another. Everyone is under pressure in this particular situation, and they’re all going to react to it in different ways. Yep, there’s still some danger ahead, but everyone’s together again, and no one’s bit the dust thus far. Garan may be determined not to let this one get away, but the Fellowship will be just as determined to thwart him. I’ll do my best to write effectively, but whatever happens, I’ll get this story finished one way or another. I've got to, if it's one of someone's all-time favorites. :)

Author's reply

Hello, GamgeeFest! Nice to see you here again. I’m glad you liked Merry’s chapter. I wasn’t quite sure how it would be received, but people seem to have enjoyed it. I always feel more certain about the chapters that just roll off of my fingers than the ones that drag out over months at a time. I’m hoping that the next chapter comes more easily than this one did. After how long it took to get it posted, I thought I had better announce my intention to finish the story, and I’m glad I did. More than one person seems to think I’d up and died. I’ve been frustrated by some of my favorite stories being abandoned, but I can understand how it happens. Sometimes the inspiration or the desire to write simply goes away. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be my problem. :)

Author's reply

Ahoy, Dreamflower! (Sorry, just saw the new Pirates movie and had a great time, the length notwithstanding.) Good to hear that you liked the last chapter! This story has worked out in such a way that I’ve been able to put something dramatic in just about every chapter. I’m not sure how all of the last chapters are going to fall out – some slowdown is inevitable at this point – but I’ll try to make them all interesting. Your mention of the various members of the Fellowship interacting with each other was absolutely thrilling. I’m so glad that you saw fit to comment on it! I agree with you in thinking that everyone in the Fellowship ought to be interacting with each other. In this story, when various members of the company are having a discussion, anyone and everyone may butt in unless the original speakers take the trouble to make things private. I enjoyed having Pippin, Gandalf, Gimli and Boromir do just that when Merry and Aragorn were talking. After all, Sam’s and Legolas’ health impacts them all. I don’t like reading “group” conversations where particular members of the Fellowship are almost entirely left out. Poor Gimli; he’s almost always the first to go, isn’t he? :)

Author's reply

Thanks, Calenlass! Forgive me, but I can’t recall if you’ve reviewed before. Either way, thanks for taking the time to do so! I’m glad you’re enjoying the story. I’m sorry the updates are coming a little slower, but I’m working as steadily as I can. I’ve already made some decent progress on Pippin’s chapter (he’s next).

Author's reply

Thanks, Gemini! No, I haven’t given up, and I won’t. Things got a little tough for a while. The usual excuses apply, namely that life got pretty busy. Work is a lot busier than it was when I started this story, and that seems to affect things. It’s amazing how a lack of time to write can slow everything down. I mean, when I have to put the story aside for a while, I’ve got to get back in the right frame of mind when I pick it up again and reread a lot of stuff to find the right mood and tone and all that. Continuity is a good thing.

Author's reply

Thanks, Rona! It’s nice to see you here again. I’m glad that you liked Merry’s chapter. It’s been fun – and educational – to write this story through so many different points of view. Everyone in the Fellowship is strained by these events in some way, and it ought to affect them all differently. I came up with the idea of having Merry be the one to revive Sam a long time ago. After all, he grew up near a river and we know that he doesn’t have Sam’s fear of them. But what would it be like to actually have to save a friend from death like that? It must be terrifying – really terrifying to know that you’re holding the life of someone dear to you in your hands. I witnessed a member of my own family trying to save a friend from choking, and it was awful. … And on that happy note, I’ll keep on writing, and I hope that you keep on reading!

Author's reply

Hola, Fire! You’re dead on about the irony of Merry worrying over being a weak link after he had just saved Sam’s life. It’s got to be good for him to know that he’s not alone, though – that the Ring will try any and all paths to get back to Sauron. I’m glad you enjoyed the chapter and that you’re still reading!

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Thanks, Harrowcat! It is so very good to be back. I’ve missed posting and reading and responding to reviews. There’s nothing quite like the natural high of getting some new feedback, is there?

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Nice to see you again, Pony! You’re right, everyone’s generally unhappy. It’s been all ‘Hurry, hurry, hurry’ and now it’s suddenly ‘Wait’. Unfortunately, they’re waiting for the Men to catch up with them as much as for Sam and Legolas to get back on their feet… but at least they’re together again. I find the interactions between the different members of the Fellowship to be rich with potential, and I love exploring them.

Author's reply

Hey there! Dreamflower nominated this story for MEFA. Wasn't that sweet? And it's one of your favorite Fellowship stories? Woo hoo! :) I do hope that other people will read and enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Author's reply

Thanks, Delrauko! I'm sorry I took so long to reply. But I'm still alive, still writing, and about ready to post again. Take care!