Dreamflower
· 10 October 2012
· Chapter 32: The Watchful Peace
Oh, oh, oh! How intriguing! A great prophesy, and one that would naturally alarm the W-k!
I like your version of the Oldbucks. I started one on that subject for B2Mem, but have yet to finish it. But I think we are in agreement on several things!
Author's reply
I've alluded to this prophecy before, as the reason why the Witch-king did his best to get rid of the royal family of Cardolan. Now I've given it its context, and I feel relieved.
And you, too, were imagining the Oldbucks? Oh, I can't wait to see it!
Sunny
· 26 September 2012
· Chapter 31: Seeking to Answer Questions of Identity
I see that the corruption of Saruman proceeds apace.
Clearly Gandalf has an excellent grasp of operational security - he did not tell Saruman that he was thinking about scouting out Dol Guldur, perhaps since he would most sternly have forbidden it. Also, what he does not know, he can't carelessly let slip to unfriendly ears.
Secretly using one of Thranduil's patrols was also a good move - the inhabitants of Dol Guldur focus their attention and retaliation on what they were able to detect, and not on the one who so quietly and invisibly sneaked past their watchful eyes. And then distracted everybody in the tower with that very spectacular bit of arson.
I caught the reference to Shelley. ;-)
Author's reply
I just love the name Ozimandus, really, and had to include it since I didn't dare rip off Frank L. Baum any further than I had. Heh! Two literary allusions for the price of one!
I pondered whether or not Gandalf would go over his plans with his chief, but decided I didn't think he would--just get in there as best he can and get it done. I was just surprised in checking out the Tale of Years to see it took him three years to make it from that meeting of the Council to Dol Guldur for the first time. And I did suspect he'd make use of one of Thranduil's patrols, as it would indeed offer good cover for his secret moves.
But it must have been frustrating to succeed in getting in and not find out precisely who the Necromancer was beyond a shadow of a doubt, at the same time realizing his diversion was sufficiently unnerving to send the whole crew packing for a time!
Dreamflower
· 26 September 2012
· Chapter 31: Seeking to Answer Questions of Identity
Bwahahahaha! Oh, Gandalf, what an imagination!
I have a feeling that this is not turning out a particularly good day for Khamul and the Mouth, LOL!
Loved the interruption of the sacrifice and the poor man's timely escape. I look forward to the finding of Thrain...
Author's reply
In studying the Tale of Years, you will note that Gandalf entered Dol Guldur twice, and it was the second time that he found Thrain the Second in the dungeons there. Trying to keep them all straight is making my mind muddled, which is part of the reason this chapter took so long to finish.
But I have always wanted to invoke the name of Ozimandus, so not wanting to rip off F.L. Baum too much I got to use that name here!
Thanks for the review--I so appreciate it, as you know!
Sunny
· 5 September 2012
· Chapter 30: Kingless Is Crown
Saruman clearly has lost all the wisdom he once held. The Istari was, as Gandalf said, sent to offer guidance and wisdom, but what does Saruman do? Nothing, that's what. Nary a word to Eärnur about the needs of the kingdom, which he should have put before his own desire to match himself against the wight. And the way you describe what is now the Morgul valley makes it sound like a very creepy place already.
Imrazor has chosen to await the true King of Gondor.
Given his rank, I suppose his house involved, and certainly well informed of what went on when Arvedui tried to claim the throne, but was denied by the faction led by Pelendur and his faction. He may not have wanted his house involved with the politics in Minas Tirith. Also, he has married an Elf, and it wouldn't be unlikely that the stewards would be suspicious of anyone involved with Elves, given that Arvedui had their support for the throne.
Author's reply
Doing nothing is sometimes the right thing to do, and sometimes the worst. In this case, I suspect that for Saruman it was the worst. And I do suspect that Imrazor was wise enough to keep to his own place and not seek to expand to the entire nation, where he would most likely be seen as less than acceptable to many. And your perception that there would be suspicion perhaps in the line of the Stewards toward anyone with Elvish support is so apt!
Thanks so, Sunny!
Dreamflower
· 4 September 2012
· Chapter 30: Kingless Is Crown
*arrgghh!!!* Saruman! It's no wonder he fell so far. His pride and arrogance are beyond stupid.
I like your version of the tale of Imrazor and Mithrellas-- it makes so much sense.
Author's reply
I have always felt that those who fell in Middle Earth too often held the seeds of their own destruction within them in their personal hubris, and Saruman certainly displayed that!
And am so glad you feel my version of this story makes sense. We know how often the "other" is viewed with suspicion until s/he somehow officially joins "us," and how true this must have been within Middle Earth as it is in our time and reality. But how difficult it must have been for Mithrellas to watch her husband grow old and face his own mortality when it is so different with the Elves.
Thanks so, Dreamflower.
Sunny
· 28 August 2012
· Chapter 29: A Find Amidst the Mountains
You have provided a good and logical reason for why Imrazôr was called "The Númenórean" in a nation founded by refugees from Númenor. And I get the impression that Imrazôr is very like both his ancestor and descendant (the Faramirs!)
It must have been frustrating for the men to know that orcs are hiding out around them and then in the night to hear the sound of fighting, but because of the darkness unable to find and succour the ones who are fighting for their lives against the orcs.
The fair Elven-maid certainly has roused Imrazor's protective instincts and interest both. I'll enjoy seeing how this develops! (I assume we _will_ see it - and if you don't find room for it here, perhaps some shorter fics elsewhere, perhaps?)
Author's reply
There had to be a special reason for his title, and it was wonderful to think on it and find plausible reasons for it. The story will be expanded upon some in future chapters, but I don't plan to go into a lot of depth--there are too many more periods to go through as we examine the Tale of Years and the places of Saruman, Radagast, and Gandalf within them.
And to be unable to come against the foe due to fog, darkness, and weather must have been most frustrating for all of them!
Dreamflower
· 28 August 2012
· Chapter 29: A Find Amidst the Mountains
Oh! What an awesome version of their meeting!
Author's reply
Oh, thank you so! If he indeed found her in the mountains, how might it have happened? And so this story wrote itself for me. Thank you so!
Raksha The Demon
· 28 August 2012
· Chapter 29: A Find Amidst the Mountains
I love this attention paid to the ancestry of the Princes of Dol Amroth, especially their forefather, who reminds me a little of his descendant, another 'wise' Faramir. Nice touch that Denethor's younger son was given a name from his mother's princely and high-Numenorean line.
Glad to see this great story continuing.
Author's reply
Oh, I'm so glad you appreciate this, Raksha. We know that Dol Amroth didn't receive its name until after Amroth was lost from his ship as it was driven out to sea by the storm that tore it from the quays of Edhellond. Plus Imrazor was known as Imrazor the Numenorean, which meant that his ties to the land from which the Dunedain came had to be pretty strong in the eyes of the people of Gondor.
So I've imagined that his city was known as Numenor vi Ennorath, or Numenor within Middle Earth, which could help explain his title perhaps, until it was named anew Dol Amroth after Amroth's death, perhaps by Mithrellas herself, once she might be moved to speak of what brought her into those mountains. And I would hope some of the names given to princes of the land came from those who were among the Faithful who came with Isildur and Anarion to Middle Earth.
It's taken quite a while to get Stirring Rings moving again, and I intend this time to see it through to its end, if it can be done. I've had the last few chapters save for one now being refined written for ages, and I want so to get them posted, and so need to deal with the rest!
Thanks so for your comments and for letting me know you're following the tale!
Dreamflower
· 23 August 2012
· Chapter 28: Terror Released
Oh, this filling in of the loss of Khazad-dum is well done indeed! The details are very plausible.
Poor Dwarves, they did not know what they were stirring up!
Author's reply
I almost grieve that the details are so believable, but so it must have been. But they must have sent away all of the women and children who could be prevailed upon to leave so as to protect the future of their people, or so I see it. Still, they could have had no idea as to what precisely they'd freed to destroy their greatest realm within Middle Earth.
Thanks so, Dreamflower!
Tari
· 22 August 2012
· Chapter 16: Fireworks and Protocol
It appears to me that Sauraman is already falling under Sauron's spell, making the work of the palantir much easier. Tolkien left a lot of loop holes for excellent authors like you to expand upon. Your take on how the plagues occurred seems quite logical to me. I am really enjoying this tale.
Author's reply
I suspect that there was always a core of hubris mixed with a portion of uncertainty he sought to hide within Saruman, so, yes, it would be fairly easy for Sauron to play upon those. And I'm so glad you feel that the plagues of various sorts worked out properly.
Thanks so very much for the compliment! I am honored! And thanks for the comments as well--they keep me writing. Hopefully the next chapter will be up tonight or tomorrow!
Dreamflower
· 11 August 2012
· Chapter 27: The Flight of Nimrodel
Oh my! I have spent most of the afternoon and evening re-reading and then catching up with the story! You have brilliantly woven together the events of the Tale of Years and the Appendixes so far, and I am eager to learn more of how it will continue.
The fates of the hobbits was so sad.
And what a filling out of the story of Nimrodel! Will you show the fate of Mithrellas? I'd love to learn your version of it.
Oh-- and I do love to see your Gandalf when he fights! Most people forget that he could be a warrior when he had to be!
Author's reply
Oh, yes, Gandalf sought to do all he could to add to the defense of the Free Peoples, including fighting at their sides as it was needful and as he found himself caught in battles. I've not seen any indication that Saruman ever did any such thing himself, you know. Well, it was said that he was among the People of Manwe, and most likely fought in the past in the battles between the forces of the Valar and the forces of Melkor/Morgoth.
I have always grieved that only one of the Hobbits who left to join the forces of Arvedui returned, and it tore at me to list the various ways in which the others must have died.
I've always wanted to explore what might have happened to Nimrodel and Amroth. And, yes, I intend to touch at least on Mithrellas.
Trying to expand on the Tale of Years as I'm doing is proving a frustrating if satisfying exercise, as it is so easy to find oneself skipping over details and working hard at trying to fit them back into the story. I've had to rewrite so much just to tweak a detail here and there!
Thanks so much, Dreamflower. It's been good to get this going once more, and to see it finally moving on. Maybe this time I WILL finish it!
Author Reply: Oh, yes, Gandalf sought to do all he could to add to the defense of the Free Peoples, including fighting at their sides as it was needful and as he found himself caught in battles. I've not seen any indication that Saruman ever did any such thing himself, you know. Well, it was said that he was among the People of Manwe, and most likely fought in the past in the battles between the forces of the Valar and the forces of Melkor/Morgoth.
I have always grieved that only one of the Hobbits who left to join the forces of Arvedui returned, and it tore at me to list the various ways in which the others must have died.
I've always wanted to explore what might have happened to Nimrodel and Amroth. And, yes, I intend to touch at least on Mithrellas.
Trying to expand on the Tale of Years as I'm doing is proving a frustrating if satisfying exercise, as it is so easy to find oneself skipping over details and working hard at trying to fit them back into the story. I've had to rewrite so much just to tweak a detail here and there!
Thanks so much, Dreamflower. It's been good to get this going once more, and to see it finally moving on. Maybe this time I WILL finish it!
shadowfax
· 9 August 2012
· Chapter 27: The Flight of Nimrodel
Hey larner!
I am so glad to see this story being updated again! And what a chapter. I think this is the first I have read in fanfiction about Nimrodel and Amroth and I'm glad to see it done justice! Well done.
I wonder what happens to the elf who was wounded with a Morgul blade? Will it be addressed in the future chapters?
I am surprised that both Amroth and Nimrodel weren't patient enough to wait till it was safe to travel through the land. Wouldn't that have been wiser?
Author's reply
Yes, what happened to the elf woman will be addressed in the next chapter. I've been wanting to work on the story of Nimrodel and Amroth for some time, and to figure out how Mithrellas ended up wandering out of the mountains into the arms of Imrazor. That something similar to this might have happened just seemed likely. But first I find I must detour into Khazad-dum....
Sunny
· 8 August 2012
· Chapter 27: The Flight of Nimrodel
Yay! A new chapter!
Really glad to see the story moving forward - I have waited quite a while for this! :-D
Author's reply
Thank you so, Sunny. Yes, I'm finally caught up and moving ahead with the story. Although I've already had to do a few more revisions just in the last evening to keep more in line with the Tale of Years. I swear, this has been the most demanding story I've written yet!
Tari
· 24 July 2012
· Chapter 10: The Free Peoples Meet in Council
I love your interpretation of the White Council. The details totally captured my interest. Well done.
Author's reply
I'm so glad that it did, Tari. Too bad that Saruman ended up betraying them all as he did in the end!
Agape4Gondor
· 20 July 2012
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
I can't believe that Pelendur would go against such council. But did not the greater being, Feanor, fight good and true council, to the fall of his own household. One of the stupidest decisions ever made by Man. Pelendur's folly.
Well written. Bravo!
Author's reply
And I thank you! Yes, Pelendur was apparently averse to what I'm certain he saw as outside interference. Yes, a stupid decision, but one it appears he was fated to make.
Agape4Gondor
· 20 July 2012
· Chapter 21: Gondor Loses her King
Wow! A most stirring *g* rendition of that time. One of Gondor's darkest hours. Such horrors after such hope. Ah Pelendur, you know not what you do.
Stunningly written.
Author's reply
Yes, a dark, dark time, and one that cost so much in the end. No, Pelendur does not know what he is doing, I fear. Nor does he realize that Earnil and Earnur will not serve more than a generation or two.
Lyana
· 19 July 2012
· Chapter 26: Angmar Bested
I have so enjoyed this telling of a period of Middle Earth history for which we are given just broad brushstrokes; I've found the scenarios and personalities to be utterly believable and engaging. You know, I actually shied away from reading this at first because that time is tragic on so many levels, but you've succeeded in still showing warmth, humor and hope in the midst of horrific times - just like real life.
Great story, especially the hobbits in the last few chapters. Hard to imagine that would all be forgotten by the time of the Ring War, but all so believable at the same time.
Author's reply
I'd not intended to unveil this chapter, too, as its final betaing hasn't been done yet; but I'm so glad that the whole of the war between Angmar and Arnor as told from the point of view of the Hobbits who took part managed to strike you as it did. War is a terrible thing, but it has been the crucible that has tempered the spirits of so many over the millenia.
Thank you so very much!
curiouswombat
· 13 July 2012
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
Oh what a sad, brave, ending for Marco of the Marish.
A chapter that held me enthralled from start to finish.
Author's reply
We know only one of those who left the Shire ever returned. How difficult that must have been for Bucca.
Thank you so, CW.
Agape4Gondor
· 11 July 2012
· Chapter 19: Wainriders
I once watched a special on charioteers. Mostly from Egypt. They were a formidable army. I couldn't believe the speed they had and the mobility. I've often thought of that when reading of the Wainriders.
Good chapter. Poor Gondor. And, I suppose, everyone else. But at least the plagues and such have stopped, for the moment.
Author's reply
The Wainriders appear to have been very effective, but there are downsides to all forms of warfare in the end. Yes, poor Gondor, facing such foes so many times over the years. As for the plagues, I suspect that eventually the Arnorians would simply place guards on the borders to return all crossing over to sender if at all possible in order to keep losses due to germ warfare to a minimum.
Thanks so, Agape!
Agape4Gondor
· 20 June 2012
· Chapter 18: Fighting Fire with Fire
Pox against pox. Very interesting.
I was starting to become anxious for Gondor and was hoping they would be warned.
Author's reply
Oh, yes, they would be warned. And I remember a story in my third grade reading book about how children received the first of the smallpox inoculations, and learning it was actually cowpox virus that was administered. My mother had the scar on her upper arm where she received hers. I was only a baby when I got mine, and there was no sign of any scarring from the pox afterwards--apparently a baby's skin is more able to rejuvenate than that of a woman grown.
Let's see--so far I've had bubonic plague, malaria, smallpox, and rabies. But I do believe that Sauron would experiment with germ warfare as well as more common guerrila and martial tactics. Anything to weaken his enemies.
Agape4Gondor
· 20 June 2012
· Chapter 17: Seeking Cooperation
Great chapter. Loved the part with Elrohir, and the part with Arwen, and the part with Malin, and the... loved the whole chapter.
PS. It was nice to see his reaction to Arwen's kiss and Nimrodel's song.
Author's reply
Thank you so! And I think that the nature he took upon himself in the guise of an old Man would be pleasantly surprised by a gentle kiss from a pretty maiden, while the Maia within him would respond to Nimrodel's song by joining in it!
Agape4Gondor
· 7 June 2012
· Chapter 16: Fireworks and Protocol
This chapter mesmerized me so much that I had to reread it before I could comment. Forgive the overabundance of thoughts...
I can imagine Saruman's fury with a council called and him not there. No matter the excuses -- they should have waited for him. NOT. In fact, HE should have called it. No council should be allowed to be called by another - inferior - being. Wow. Gave me goosebumps. I could just hear the sarcasm dripping from his lips as he said, 'my brother.' *shivers*
How dare Moran NOT use Saruman's plans? How dare he accept them and then throw them away? This chapter just reeks of Saruman's pride and disdain for all those in this world about him.
Gandalf's innocence just exudes from him as he prepares the concoctions, offers wine, and sits in pleasant converse with pure evil. *shudder shudder*
I loved the 'beginning to forget' sentence. Really potent. I wonder if Saruman forgot - no, I think not. Just pure evil. Seems he had forgotten.
Saruman's lack of knowledge surprised me -- though his pride probably made him think he knew everything -- obviously not. He knew only what he had seen himself - ears closed to everything else.
As I said, I found this one of your best chapters. Gandalf ran off at the mouth so much so that I was reminded of Pippin. But he would not, could not, believe that his fellow Istar would even do evil.
It is a truly sad and horrifying chapter. Well done!!!
Author's reply
I don't think that Saruman had as yet become evil, only more self-serving at the moment. But, no, Gandalf cannot as yet imagine to what Saruman will come, and so tends to speak perhaps too much, but still in obedience to the chief of his order.
It must have been so difficult for them to remain in the bodies of Men for so long, as their own natures as Maiar would tend to become forgotten as time continued.
Thanks so for the comments--I do so appreciate them!
Agape4Gondor
· 25 May 2012
· Chapter 15: Call to Council
Very sad to see all of Middle Earth impacred by Sauron's treachery. I love Blanco's verse. Still timely.
Author's reply
Yes, Sauron's actions were intended to cause death and consternation everywhere, increasing his creatures' chances of winning through should they make assaults on the nearest of the Free Peoples. And if his attempts to deplete populations should relieve a people or two of their proper leadership (as happened in Gondor when the water supplies were poisoned), then so much the better!
It was interesting to work in real-world diseases and conditions into Middle Earth and figure out how the Dunedain, Elrond, and Gandalf could think of dealing with them!
Dreamflower
· 10 May 2012
· Chapter 15: Call to Council
This is coming along very nicely! Did you get this far in your previous posting, or is this whole part new? None of it seemed familiar to me...
Author's reply
All of the chapters so far, except for the prologue, have been edited and reposted, so, no, this is not new. It's when I reach the battles with Angmar that I will be having to change things markedly as I look at the loss of Amroth and Nimrodel, consider Imrazor and Mithrellas, and look at the final confrontation between Earnur and the Witch-king. And from there on it will be all new material. Hopefully Fiondil will be up to betaing the next chapter soon.
Dreamflower
· 29 April 2012
· Chapter 13: The Granting of the Shire
Oh wow! I have finally had the free time to catch up on your repost this afternoon-- I can definitely see that you've made some significant changes, and yet it still retains its flavor. I look forward to seeing more of it!
Author's reply
I'm glad to hear from some of those who are following the repost. Yes, a few important changes, but most much as they'd been before. Thanks to Fiondil for his assistance!