Eluthaun
· 13 October 2008
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
This body of work has brought me immense pleasure!
Nothing delights me more than to see the family dispute between the Baggins and the Sackville Baggins fleshed out as it was in this account.
I was also -in particular- impressed with the notion of the wizard-staffs- of how the greater potential and memories of the Istari were stashed within- only able to be sifted a few notions at a time.
I also feel you have truly understood Tolkiens great theme: that pride is the greatest downfall of all, and possibly the root of all evil. I loved seeing Tolkien's world wielded so lovingly and deftly! I wait eagerly for the next installation!
Author's reply
I am honored. There had to be a reason why each staff was specific to the Wizard; and if they were indeed Maiar, then it only made sense that if they were to appear as mortal men somehow there had to be some kind of limiting factor to keep them from easily converting back. With the staves serving as a sort of repository for much of what they knew as Maiar that would be inappropriate for Men to know, this solved that problem. I'm so glad you believe this idea serves the purpose well.
Hubris has always been the downfall of great ones.
Again I am honored, and thank you so for the feedback. Hopefully no other chapters will take eight months to finish! This last one was most stubborn!
Baggins Babe
· 11 October 2008
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
How dreadful for Buccan - and poor brave Marco. It is horrifying to think of hobbits being tortured and killed by the forces of Angmar.
I loved the glimpses of our beloved hobbits' ancestors, especially Holmwise Goodchild. I see a lot of Sam in that one! And how typical of a Baggins to be carrying a book!
Author's reply
I agree, Babe. We know that Bucca alone of those who marched out to the service of Arvedui returned home again, although in my version he will have a younger companion who will go on to the Northfarthing when all is finished with Bucca's homecoming. We know Bucca was an ancestor of both the more modern Tooks as well as the Oldbucks-cum-Brandybucks; he'll be bringing back a wooden duck and a sword....
And, indeed, trust a Baggins to be carrying a book! Heh! I decided to base it on one of the styles of books that Tolkien indicated in The Hobbit was favored by Hobbits.
Kara's Aunty
· 9 October 2008
· Chapter 3: The Voyage
Hello,
another beautifully written, intelligent chapter.
It's sad that Saruman had all the right gifts to begin his journey well (knowledge, strength of mind, power, respect) but chose to abuse them. Such is the folly of arrogance!
Ossë shared the same values, but although he stumbled, he learned from his mistakes and regrets them sincerely - in his own way. This you have conveyed very well.
Looking forward to more.
Maureen.
Author's reply
Sorry to be so late getting back on these--have had troubles getting online--competing for dialup with the grandkids! Heh!
Saruman's journey is made difficult as you note by his own pride. Gandalf's journey, though it is nearly the same, is yet different because he is such a different personality. And I am glad that Uinen managed to talk sense into her spouse and bring him back to the light!
I just hope I can get the next chapter updated in a more timely manner than the last one!
Raksha The Demon
· 8 October 2008
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
Eeek - hobbits killed and tortured by Angmar's minions! A harrowing chapter, and not just for the poor, brave hobbits. I hope you write more of this engrossing story soon.
Author's reply
I hope nothing I write ever is so terrifyingly reluctant to be written as this last chapter proved to be! It took ages to get it done, for it refused to flow until yesterday. For weeks at a time all I seemed able to get would be a single paragraph or sentence or phrase. Finally, yesterday morning, the rest came and allowed itself to be finished, but not until I'd removed a paragraph and started rewriting it--then at last I could finish those last five pages. It was SUCH a relief!
As for the Hobbits--it appears that Bucca was the only Hobbit to come out of the Shire to Aranarth's relief to return to it. It's a rather horrible situation, I admit.
Now, to get back to both of the epics, as the next chapters of both rely somewhat on one another.
Hello Larner,
Loved the chapter. Saruman will never learn will he? Always the arrogance, to proud to embrace humility. It's going to be a long fall down for him.
And hello Gandalf!!! Good old Gandalf!!! Yippee!
I'm looking forward to all of their arrivals in ME - and especially Saruman's reaction to Radagast (who is clearly the better of the two). That's a 'Handbags at Dawn' (or Wizard's Staff at Dawn) scenario in the making!
Maureen
Author's reply
Yes, Gandalf is now involved, and such a contrast to his fellow!
Thanks so much for the feedback! I love it always, of course.
shadowfax
· 8 October 2008
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
Wow so you updated at last!!!
This was another great chapter....and how you have nicely shifted the pov from Gandalf to Bucca of the Marish! The siege Fornost was nicely done and the despair and helplessness as well as the faithfulness of the Hobbits very nicely shown.
Poor Marco....what a cruel death even though it does add to the emotional element as we feel Bucca's horror!
Please do continue soon!
Author's reply
This has proven the most stubborn chapter I've ever tried to write--except for the original story I've written parts of for years, and have been trying to make into a believable whole at last.
This was definitely Bucca's chapter, as will be the next as well. To see Annuminas razed and Fornost taken must have been horrible for the men of Arnor and all their allies!
Yes, too cruel a death for Marco; but he's shown just how enduring the Hobbits can be.
Am working on the next chapter, although I do have a couple of commitments I'm seeing to along with that one. I hope no future chapter might get stuck in transit as this one did.
Kara's Aunty
· 7 October 2008
· Chapter 1: Debate in Valinor
Hello,
this looks very interesting....
I reakky enjoyed this chapter - I've never thought before about how the Istari came to be sent to Middle Earth so this is going to be a very enjoyable read.
I may not be able to get through as much of it as I would like each evening as I'm posting my fic here now and spend a few hours each evening 'tweaking' each chapter in preparation, but I'm very glad to have this to look forward to when I'm sick of the sight of my own.
Will read more tomorrow.
Goodnight!
Author's reply
Fiondil and I have similar views on how the Wizards were sent, although his are distinctly different in some details. But it's been fun trying to think how this would be done. And I know what you mean about getting sick of seeing one's own work! Heh!
Will try your story again in a while just to see how it got tweaked. Thanks so!
shirebound
· 7 October 2008
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
Ohhh, how unutterably tragic. War is bad enough, but knowing that hobbits were involved is just heartbreaking. At least everyone now knows their worth.
Author's reply
Oh, I know--the thought that some of our guys' ancestors fought and died in this war is rather sad in many ways. But these have indeed proven the capabilities of Hobbits.
Dreamflower
· 7 October 2008
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
Oh, how sad! Poor Bucca, and brave Marco!
This was a real action packed chapter, Larner. You did so well with the battles and the fighting--that's always a hard thing to write, I find. But you kept things fairly clear and easy to understand.
So, we see one of Sam's ancestors, eh? I love his fascination with the Elves--something he'll be handing down to his descendants.
Author's reply
I am honored, Dreamflower. Am so glad you feel it was easy to follow. And, yes, we have one of Bilbo and Frodo's and one of Sam's ancestors. And yes, we start seeing some family trait.
At last--this chapter has taken SO long to write! I'm so glad to get it done so hopefully I can get onto the next chapter!
And it was sad to write about Marco.
SurgicalSteel
· 7 October 2008
· Chapter 24: The Siege of Fornost
Another chapter! At last! *throws confetti in the air*
This was wonderfully grim, if you know what I mean. The details of who the Shire sent, and just how useful and loyal they were - cleverly written and with a gruesome reality. Nicely done.
Author's reply
At last I managed to get this chapter finished. It was such a relief.
Am so glad you felt this felt realistic. Thanks so much!
shadowfax
· 19 September 2008
· Chapter 23: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge
One question: When will you update????
Damn good story!
Author's reply
Believe it or not, but I AM working on the next chapter, but it's eking out a few sentences at a time, which is frustrating for me as well as for those who are reading it.
Thank you--I think it's a good story, too, if this chapter would JUST LET ITSELF BE FINISHED! The last few chapters have been done for quite some time.
Linda Hoyland
· 15 December 2007
· Chapter 23: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge
An enjoyable chapter. I loved Gandalf's visions.
Author's reply
Ah, so you've managed to catch up here, too. am so glad!
Now I must run--have a drive to Portland to make soon.
Baggins Babe
· 12 December 2007
· Chapter 23: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge
Firiel is a very intelligent woman. How interesting to think that the Ring did not function very well in cool water, being a thing of fire. That makes perfect sense.
Ah! So that's how the block-headed Bracegirdles came into being is it? What a stubborn, foolish father, to lose his daughter in such a fashion. Platina made the right choice though.
This look at the early Third Age is absolutely fascinating.
Author's reply
To gain Arvedui's love, she must have been very special. Am so glad that you agree. "It misses the heat of Its Master's hand, which was hot as a glede, that having been what brought the end to Gil-galad" or words to that effect.
We've seen this strain of stubbornness amongst the Stoors who followed Bilbiolo and his father over the mountains into Eriador; I think it's here where the worst of it became focused in the Bracegirdles.
And it's been wonderful imagining the events that occurred during Gandalf's stay in Middle Earth as one of the Istari.
Thanks.
Raksha The Demon
· 12 December 2007
· Chapter 23: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge
Interesting alliances and feudings between the clans of Baggins and Sackvilles and Bracegirdles. Platina chose well. And the birth of Bucca was a nice touch.
Author's reply
Well, we've looked at how the village of the Baggers and its sister village of the Sackinses developed into those two family names; and in "The Tenant" we've seen discussion of how the families separated and came back together; now--how did the Bracegirdles come to be?
And it's a joy to see how Bucca came into the story, or so I thought. Am pleased you like it.
Thanks, Raksha.
SurgicalSteel
· 11 December 2007
· Chapter 23: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge
Lots of threads being tied together here - nicely done!
Author's reply
I'm honored, SS. It's a time for doing so before the fragmentation that comes in the next phase of ME history.
harrowcat
· 11 December 2007
· Chapter 23: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge
A chapter worth the wait, (and you have kept us entertained in the meantime).
I am loving the development of names as I think I have probably said before. And the joining and sundering of hobbit families is fascinating.
And in doing so, the Ring had inadvertently betrayed Itself. It could not move Itself from place to place; and having been born in Fire It required some degree of warmth in order to remain sufficiently aware to call to It the creatures Its fell master and his predecessor had loosed upon Middle Earth. Lost in the river and kept cool by its water, perhaps as Saruman insisted carried unto the Sea itself, It was helpless, for in quantity Water held quenching power over Fire.
This is another fascinating idea. That the Ring was helpless in the presence of water. Perhaps another reason for Smeagol's long possession of the Ring was that he kept it mostly on an island surrounded by a dark, underground lake. It would account for Sauron not being able to sense it and call to it.
Procrastinators of the World Unite! My downfall when I was doing my Master's degree was playing Spider and Freecell! I wasn't aware of the great world of Fanfiction, or even of the power of the Internet then. Thank goodness or it might never have got written. I find I like the idea of my fictionist (or should that be fictitious, *g*) friends being on-line at the same time as I am.
Author's reply
Yes, the plotbunnies and smaller nuzgul have been driving me crazy, obviously; and just writing this chapter allowed a couple of plot bunnies to attack me, one of which was posted (the one about Nerdanel), and one of which will be posted soon enough.
The idea that being in the river helped isolate the Ring to an extent came from someone else originally; but I'll admit that not even I'd thought of the dampering effect of the fact it was kept on an island as it was.
Yes, I'm a prime procrastinator--I admit it freely. Glad to know I'm NOT alone!
shirebound
· 11 December 2007
· Chapter 23: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge
Another fascinating chapter. I love it when Gandalf roams the lands, seeing for himself how everything is faring. And I particularly love the word 'Barandiwine'. :)
Author's reply
I wished to see how the Shire was faring at the time, and how our families might have begun to separate and develop what might be their more familiar forms. And I figured there might have been an interim designation for the river between "Baranduin" and "Brandywine," and wished to explore that.
I suspect that Gandalf held a good deal of affection and respect for the Hobbits he'd met for as long as he was in Middle Earth as a Wizard. This was just a good time to explore how that might have come to be.
Thanks so for the feedback, Shirebound.
Love our Hobbits!
Kitty
· 9 September 2007
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
Loved it to have not only Elrond and the contingent of Imladris accompanying Arvedui, but the Galadhrim and Silvan elves as well. It gave so much more meaning to the claim.
Sorry, but I can’t help it – Pelendur was an idiot, and his own petty motives don’t help at all. Arvedui’s parting words hit the nail on the head. A pity Eärnil didn’t arrive earlier, maybe some of the counselours would have decided differently then. But well, Tolkien didn’t allow it *sigh*
Now I am wondering how things would have gone if Gondor had accepted the claim for the throne. It’s true – Pelendur has no idea how badly his envy and arrogance affected two realms and countless generations of people. In hindsight he has a lot to answer for.
Author's reply
So much evil might have been avoided had Gondor actually accepted Arvedui, I think. Elrond had inherited his family's prescient tendencies, and all know that Galadriel was a seer of note, as was Cirdan. That they would wish to see the foreseen evil, however vague their awareness of how evil it would be, avoided at all costs seems very likely.
Pelendur probably commanded a fair following, particularly among the younger lords of the realm; that he would end up swaying the Council against Arvedui's suit before Earnil could arrive to perhaps influence it in the opposite direction just seemed likely. But as the Master indicated that Arvedui wasn't accepted and greatly due to Pelendur's influence, this just seemed a very likely scenario.
And it would be fun to play around in Pelendur's head a bit--but unfortunately if I did I'd likely never get this finished! Heh!
Raksha The Demon
· 9 September 2007
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
One receives and one bestows; one remains while his brother goes. - I recognize Faramir as the one who remains while his brother goes; but who receives and who bestows?
A lot of misery might have been avoided if Malbeth had had a good interpreter, or been sober/sane when he made all these prophecies, LOL. Of course, then there wouldn't have been much of a story; but maybe he wouldn't have been heeded anyway.
Earnil sounds like a good, sensible person, rather than just a warlord out for more power.
I can only hope Firiel had a good life in exile, but it sounds like she loved her husband and did very well up in the north country...
Author's reply
I'll let you interpret that one as you will.
Why prophets must always be so obscure I have no idea, but so the history of them tends to show. Those who spoke more plainly, like Cassandra, tended not to be very popular--maybe that's why most tended to make their prophecies obscure, that by the time the reality of them hit those hearing the prophecy they were too busy dealing with what was happening to blame the messenger.
We know that Earnil sent word to Arvedui he would honor the treaty forged between Aranarth and Ondoher and that Earnur came with his fleet to the last great war between Arnor and Angmar; I suspect that Earnil was a far nobler man than was Pelendur.
And I do think that Firiel must have loved her husband to agree to go so far from her homeland.
Author Reply: I'll let you interpret that one as you will.
Why prophets must always be so obscure I have no idea, but so the history of them tends to show. Those who spoke more plainly, like Cassandra, tended not to be very popular--maybe that's why most tended to make their prophecies obscure, that by the time the reality of them hit those hearing the prophecy they were too busy dealing with what was happening to blame the messenger.
We know that Earnil sent word to Arvedui he would honor the treaty forged between Aranarth and Ondoher and that Earnur came with his fleet to the last great war between Arnor and Angmar; I suspect that Earnil was a far nobler man than was Pelendur.
And I do think that Firiel must have loved her husband to agree to go so far from her homeland.
Linda Hoyland
· 7 September 2007
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
Pelendur's thwarted desires have led to a heavy price for Gondor,but at least Firiel did not end up with such a husband !Was the prophecy yours or Tolkien's?
A gripping chapter which I enjoyed.
Author's reply
Yes, Pelendur has given Gondor and Arnor both reason all too soon to grieve; but Firiel is undoubtedly better off with Arvedui than with the Steward of Gondor.
I'm so flattered you'd think that Tolkien's! Oh, it is indeed my own.
Thanks so for the comments, Linda!
harrowcat
· 6 September 2007
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
Great chapter Larner. Love the way that you are winding 'family' traits into the key people. And the prophecy is fantastically done.
Pray I find my replacement drivers licence. I know I put it somewhere 'safe'. But that was before my Landlord took my roomapart to paint and replace the carpet. It is great now it is done but my personal possessions are a mess!
Author's reply
The traits of the descendants of Earendil were pretty well known, particularly the gift of healing. Personally I suspect the ability to read the hearts of those with whom the individual was speaking was probably one of the gifts of the line of Kings as much as it was fairly common in the House of Hurin, as it manifested in Faramir and Denethor; Aragorn and Faramir must have found that familiar in one another. And I suspect these gifts were strongest in those who ACTED with the nobility expected of Kings, and would be as noticeable in those who had some mixed blood as in those of "pure" blood--that personality were stronger determiners than breeding, if you will. I doubt, for example, that Castimir, who wrongfully slew the son of Eldecar, would have manifested much in the way of healing ability, having chosen self-centeredness and self-will in preference to true caring for the needs of the people of Gondor.
Am so glad you, too, appreciate the prophecy.
Am praying you find your license. Know about how "safe" places can mean "safe" from us; and then when other people see to it that your things are being mucked about with, whether they're moving them around or forcing you to move them without time to do so in an orderly manner, that makes matters worse. Have fun putting things to rights.
And thanks for the feedback.
SurgicalSteel
· 6 September 2007
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
As plausible a reason as any for Pelendur rejecting Arvedui's claim - misogynistic attitudes and jealousy. Neatly done.
Author's reply
Yes, as plausible an any indeed. And thanks so for the feedback.
shirebound
· 6 September 2007
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
The prophecy is wonderful! Clear enough for those with 'hindsight', yet obscure even to wizards living through such troubled times.
Author's reply
Am glad you, too, like the prophecy. Yes, very obscure at the time, and what a marvel when he sees it coming true!
Thanks so, Shirebound.
Dreamflower
· 6 September 2007
· Chapter 22: A Crown in Question
A very interesting interpretation of the coming of the Kin-strife in Gondor. It's a shame that things fell out the way they did--and yet it was inevitable, as well.
I liked the prophecy! Very well done--hints enough to those of us who know the full story, but completely obscure to thsoe who don't.
Author's reply
Not exactly the kin-strife--more the time comes when Gondor will be a kingdom with no king, and Arnor will devolve to a king with no true kingdom, but instead a land in which the King's kinfolk still try to defend all. But I'm glad you find the scenario at least interesting. There had to be some overriding reason Pelendur opposed Arvedui's claim.
And am glad you like the prophecy. Yes, one greatly obscure to those who have just heard it. (But it's fairly easy to prophecy in hindsight, isn't it? Heh!)
Linda Hoyland
· 23 August 2007
· Chapter 21: Gondor Loses her King
The grip of evil tightens. What a terrible way to die by these poisons.
Author's reply
Sauron and his minions are intent on breaking the last two lines of the Kings completely; and that they'd use tainted ointment seemed all too possible, and well in keeping with Sauron's and Khamoul's tendencies.
Thanks for reading and commenting.