This had to have been among the most traumatic moments of the actual trip into Mordor--these moments when he became near catatonic, when he could not move at all or give any sign of life. I'm unsure how much he would be aware, then or later; but the pain of the bite must have been a torture!
Perfect imagery for that time!
Author's reply
I'm unsure as well. But the assumption that he was at least able to hear makes it much more dramatic. It would have been a horrid experience, and torture of the worst kind.
Thank you!
harrowcat
· 31 October 2008
· Chapter 17: Older and Fouler Things
Urgh! Very spooky! Happy Halloween!
Author's reply
Yes! I think the Watcher was a very spooky monster!
Happy Halloween to you as well!
Andrea
· 31 October 2008
· Chapter 16: A Stumble in the Dead Marshes
faces-- ghastly, gruesome, green and grinning
Wow! The use of alliterations here was just perfect!
Poor Sam, though! It must have been a horrible experience.
It's some time ago since I last saw the movie. But I think *there* it was Frodo who saw Sam's face just before he fell into the water. Am I right? For each time I pointed this out to someone else they hadn't seen it.
Author's reply
Alliteration just seemed called for here! I am sure it was just a dreadful experience--*shudder*.
You know, it's quite possible. I don't recall that myself. But in the book, Sam's the first to stumble.
Antane
· 31 October 2008
· Chapter 16: A Stumble in the Dead Marshes
Oh, poor Sam to have seen such a ghastly vision!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, poor Sam! Of course, the stumble was canon, but I just had to make it a bit angstier.
Antane
· 31 October 2008
· Chapter 17: Older and Fouler Things
Poor Frodo to bear the thing that attracts such evil - I love the way you end these so chillingly with just a word or two. Thanks for your response to my other review about Merry and the Nazgul at Bree.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, it just drew it like a magnet, didn't it?
Well, you have to end it with just one word, so it has to have impact!
And I thought it a very interesting question.
Celeritas
· 31 October 2008
· Chapter 17: Older and Fouler Things
When I saw the summary for this I briefly thought of Durin's Bane, but this is considerably creepier (as in, ominous feelings instead of outright terror).
I always did feel sorry for Frodo whenever his burden turned into a giant target sign for ne'er-do-well beasties. Good thing Sam's there.
Author's reply
Ominous was what I was going for! We all know Frodo's rescued right away!
Yes, poor Frodo! All sorts of evil things attracted to that little trinket he carried!
Sam--who rescued him this time (and NOT Boromir! as an LJ commenter assumed!)
Larner
· 30 October 2008
· Chapter 16: A Stumble in the Dead Marshes
Oh, how horrid an image for one like Sam! The Enemy had wanted to sow despair indeed with his spells!
Author's reply
Yes, I thought it was pretty horrid! Of course, the stumble, which is canon, was horrid enough, and I had to add a little more. I'm thinking that it was either sort of like him seeing his worst fear; or perhaps a bit of dreadful prescience from when Frodo seemed dead after Shelob's attack.
At any rate, a pretty dreadful experience.
Virtuella
· 30 October 2008
· Chapter 15: The Rumour of Him
Argh, that is too terrible to contemplate! *Rushes off to check on the wee ones*
Author's reply
Yes, by all means! I'm sure they moved the baby...
Some people forget what a monster Gollum really was. He was a cannibal and a murderer--and not just Deagol, either.
Virtuella
· 30 October 2008
· Chapter 16: A Stumble in the Dead Marshes
Spooky!
Author's reply
Thanki you!
Celeritas
· 30 October 2008
· Chapter 16: A Stumble in the Dead Marshes
Ack! Noooo! There's nothing more frightening than that. *hands Sam cookies and a warm fireplace to dry off*
Seriously, this one was really good and utilized the dribble format perfectly, especially the last five lines. I was forced to slow down because of the entering and dwell on the concept even more. *shudders and hugs Sam once more for good measure*
Author's reply
I know, poor Sam. The stumble was canon, but I just had to make it even more angsty.
Thank you! It's actually in some ways harder to get these little things written than a drabble. You only have 55 words to work with, plus the line length.
Larner
· 28 October 2008
· Chapter 15: The Rumour of Him
Yes--that passage has sort of haunted me also lately for some reason--was just reading the section of Second Mum again where I indicate perhaps Gollum might have made it to the Shire.... Eerie, isn't it?
Oh, poor Smeagol--to be reduced to this!
Author's reply
I've always wondered that myself, if he actually ever came close, anyway.
Poor Smeagol was a pretty nasty little person even before he laid hands on the Ring, and he very quickly became a murderer and a cannibal. *shudder* I'm afraid that I am not as good a person as Bilbo and Frodo--I really do not have a lot of pity for him. Some, of coures, the for Ring made him even worse, and his fate was miserable. But not a lot.
Celeritas
· 28 October 2008
· Chapter 15: The Rumour of Him
As soon as I saw "a ghost that drinks blood" I thought, "Oh, no..."
The ending to this one was perfect--leaves the reader with just enough information to guess what happens next...
Author's reply
Yes, well, I certainly didn't want to say; and as I said to Antane, we can *hope* they move the baby in time.
That passage has always really struck me--people who want to make Gollum "cute" or "misunderstood" need to read that.
Antane
· 28 October 2008
· Chapter 15: The Rumour of Him
I'm glad I'm not reading these at night right before sleep! Another great one. Fledgings drained...ick! *shivers* And the end, the baby, who hopefully is still there and will be moved! This is the best one yet.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes, well, I left it ambiguous on purpose--hopefully they *will* move the baby...
Antane
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 13: Old Man Willow
Spooky indeed and the barrows the spookiest - are you going to do that too? These are chilling little bits, but all meant to happen or allowed to happen because how else would they have met Tom otherwise and had his help with the wight too.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
The barrows are indeed *very* spooky, but they have been often dealt with by others, and I don't think the dribble format would do them justice.
And, yes, I think the encounter with OMW was necessary, as you point out. There are some people who feel tha whole Old Forest-Tom Bombadil chapters are just useless sidetracks, but things occured that were essential to the ultimate success of the Quest there!
Antane
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 14: Black Breath in Bree
Scary! But another thing meant to happen. It would have been scarier if Merry hadn't taken that sniff and been able to warn the others.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Oh, most certainly! And I think there was even more to it than that: after all, Merry will be the only person to ever help slay a Nazgul. (The others perished at the destruction of the Ring.) I think that this encounter may have been a factor.
Esquire_of_Rohan
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 14: Black Breath in Bree
Well done!
Author's reply
Thank you!
Larner
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 14: Black Breath in Bree
So proper for Merry. This one expresses what happened to Merry so very well.
Author's reply
When I started trying to think of scenes to dribble for this series, this one was the first that came to mind. I'm glad you think I caught it well.
Celeritas
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 14: Black Breath in Bree
The "what is hope?" line really hit me and immediately brought to mind Merry's future experiences with the Nine--"Are you going to bury me?" and such. Which is doubtless what you intended.
Author's reply
Yes--you will notice I did work in a line from that part: "a mist of tears and weariness" always struck me as a phrase that so perfectly described his despair. I would have liked to use the "Are you going to bury me?" line as well, but wasa constrained by the dribble format.
Pearl Took
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 14: Black Breath in Bree
This is an amazingly chilling piece, Dreamflower!
MEWD!
Author's reply
"Chilling" was exactly what I was aiming for. Thank you!
Andrea
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 13: Old Man Willow
Wow! That was scary.
The dribble format even emphasises the atmosphere, until after the last "snick" there is nothing else left for poor Pippin but Old Man Willow.
I'm really glad to know that Tom Bombadil is not too far away!
Author's reply
Yes, re-reading that whole section, I was struck by how claustrophobic it became!
And I'm very glad good old Tom was nearby as well! Else the Quest would have ended all too soon.
harrowcat
· 27 October 2008
· Chapter 13: Old Man Willow
So few words yet filled with suspense and menace. Great Dreamflower.
Author's reply
Thank you! I love the dribble format! Only 55 words, just over half a drabble, but it can be such a challenge to work with!
Larner
· 26 October 2008
· Chapter 13: Old Man Willow
Ooh! Marvelously eerie! Oh, but I can see this one!
Author's reply
Oh, so could I! Poor Pip, all he wanted was a nap...
Independence1776
· 26 October 2008
· Chapter 13: Old Man Willow
Yikes!
Very glad to know Bombadil will come soon.
~ Indy
Author's reply
Yes, it's good to know that his imprisonment won't last very long!
Independence1776
· 26 October 2008
· Chapter 4: For Arda
This captures my feelings about Middle-earth (and fanfiction) almost perfectly. It's wonderful, and I don't really have words to describe what I'm trying to say.
~ Indy
Author's reply
Thank you very much! I wrote this on the occasion of the second anniversary of my posting of my very first fic here on this archive. I am glad that the tribute rings true!
Celeritas
· 26 October 2008
· Chapter 13: Old Man Willow
Eep.
Author's reply
*rubs hands gleefully* Just the reaction I hoped for.