Reviews (316)

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Moritum had the advantage of having been brought up by a Dunedan, and in so doing had learned much of honor that neither this Shkatha nor the war leader had had the chance to learn. What precisely happened to the Blue Wizards no one knows; so the thought that if one of them were captured by the Middle Earth equivalent of the Mongol Horde what might happen once his staff was captured and then broken had been niggling at me. Would he cease to exist within Arda or would he pass outside the Bounds of Arda completely? Gandalf appears to have perhaps gone as much outside the Bounds as staid within them, or so it seems to me. Your use of the metaphor of the pot and kettle is both appropriate and accurate. Yes, Saruman himself is so arrogant enough in himself that he ought not to be being so dismissive of the pride and arrogance of others. We know that Sauron and his strongest servants tried their best to betray all whenever they could; that their treachery might at this sensitive period in time reach within the Citadel of Minas Tirith just seemed too likely. And I do believe that as he did with the Fords of the Bruinen Gandalf would have added his own distinctive touch to any battle he might be called upon to assist with. So glad you appreciated it. Not something himself to kill, but to dishearten and overwhelm those who need correction.

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Oh, indeed, Shirebound. For years the Wainriders just keep coming and coming, until at last Ciriol and Eorl combine forces and manage to destroy that threat for years.

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Well, how many times have you been told by someone you ought to stop doing this, and the particular person who's "advising" you is the biggest offender around? Oh, I've been through it so often! It's always a question as to what happened to the Blue Wizards; and that one of them might have lost his identity as an Istar in this manner I just thought might be possible. They got lost somewhere, after all. Actually there were two more Kings of Gondor, although had Pelendur accepted Arvedui's claim probably both kingdoms would have done far better than they did. That would be an interesting AU, although I don't think I'll follow up on it at this time, though. And am so glad you like how Gandalf used his fireworks, not to kill but to confuse and overwhelm, much as he did with the shining horses and riders in the flood of the Bruinen. Thanks so for the feedback.

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Isn't it the way of things, that the most arrogant refuse to recognize in themselves what they criticize in others? Poor Saruman! And am honored at your summation. Thank you!

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Yes, this is one match that has importance that lasts for a thousand years and beyond, and one that had Pelendur suggested differently would have led to a Middle Earth perhaps better set to fight the growing menace of a rebuilt mordor and a renewed Sauron. There had to be some reason why Pelendur would be so negative when Arvedui came forward following Ondoher's death to claim the Winged Crown, and this seemed a very plausible reason to help explain it. Hope to read your story tomorrow. The ISP was out more than it was in earlier in the day, and I need to get back to bed and get ready for tomorrow.

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We know so little about Malbeth, so it's fun to figure out what other prophecies he might have spouted out before the end. Now, I have to figure out precisely who he is for my own curiosity! Yes, Hobbits stood as witnesses to his first major defeat as he sought to subjugate Rohan while underestimating the offense he'd caused the Ents and again to his death at the hands of Wormtongue; and their ties to the land they loved saved them in the end. And Saruman always underrated the need for balance in the world--he refused to travel with Aiwendil, after all, and spoke disparagingly of him to Gandalf there in Isengard. This was the last chance for a thousand years to see proper peace and guidance for both realms, and for the two realms to again be united; I'd think the Elves would have wished to be witnesses to that hope. And to agree to this match I'm certain Ondoher must have been very wise indeed, although I grieve his luck on the field against the Wainriders cut that wisdom short. And, yes, those dower lands are the ones inherited by those of the Line of Kings from Firiel and for which the Ring stood as the token of recognition among the bankers of Minas Tirith. I like to think that particular institution was a VERY old one by the time Aragorn became King.

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That Ondoher would agree to such an alliance that would send his daughter so far away indicated he must have been pretty clearheaded to begin with; which also indicates he probably can put two and two and two together pretty well. There must have been some who realized the Wizards weren't common men, after all. Thanks for the feedback.

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In writing this story to follow such a timeline I feel as if I'm doing only a "featured highlights" type of picturing of the history of the two realms; but the reigns of Calimehtar and Ondoher, Araphant and Arvedui are, after all, crucial to the history of all of Middle Earth, for they are the last full kings of either realm. Earnil took the Crown under such questionable circumstances, yet plainly felt responsible toward Arvedui's interests as well; and he didn't live all that long, after all. Then to be followed by Earnur, who worked so hard to gather his armada to come to the aid of Arvedui he almost arrived too late to accomplish anything at all.... I've never been to enamored of Earnur, you must realize, although I've always felt fond of his father. And am glad you're glad Malbeth is reflected here.

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I'm sorry, Kitty--I appear to have missed this one. The history of mankind has ever been warfare, unfortunately; wasn't it Churchill who stated the business of Man is War? We appear to revel in conflict and seeking to dominate others, it appears; and when we don't have anything to really fight about, too many appear ready and willing to make up or manufacture events over which to get a war going. At least some Dwarves distrust Saruman; it's better than those who distrust EVERYONE, at least! And I agree--Bilbo and Frodo must both have seemed so familiar in many ways to Gandalf when he realized these two special ones had been born there!

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In those fifteen hundred years the Wizards were in Middle Earth there was so much time for Sauron to do so very much evil. It's been interesting trying to write a story that takes place over such a long period of time, and I hope that I'll one day be able to finish this story! I'm just coming to the end of the time of Kings, after all!

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Yes, one needs to keep an eye on Saruman! Glad you appreciated that. And this is another of Frodo's ancestors, obviously, with some of the same gifts, including the ability to bring out the best in others. So glad you loved the song. Another attempt at original poetry, although it didn't take anywhere as much time as "Don't Linger, sweet Brother" did to write. But I'll warn you not to expect too much original poetry--or at least I don't think so now. Some of the plot bunnies, however, have been hiding behind my old translation of the Iliad and Odyssey, the one done in poetic form? If you find something written in iambic pentameter in one of my collections, don't be too terribly surprised! Heh!

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Yes, the Shadow grows and finds more ways to try to get at its perceived enemies. I suspect that part of the reason why the Elves had so little to do with Men on a regular basis was solely because they did lose their mortal friends, and it would grow wearing after a time. We bear the scars of each loss and grief throughout the rest of our lives, and it does add up cumulatively. By isolating themselves they were in many ways protecting themselves from that loss, I suspect. But for Gandalf, having to deal with people all the time to get them up and moving in the right direction--his heart must have been torn so many, many times! I hadn't thought of the stone giants much, but I did love them in The Hobbit and felt they needed to be spoken of. And if Sauron manipulated orcs, wolves, wargs, trolls, and evil men and nations, wouldn't he have found ways of stirring up even these at times? And I felt they did need to be recognized here. I suspect that Olorin was allowed an amount of latitude in knowing what went on back in Middle Earth; and I'm certain that if Aragorn had had such a scheme mentioned to him as sending cottons to the Shire he'd have done so. I suspect the Wizard-Maia must have been inordinately proud of the products of the Shire's spinning and weaving industries when it came to cotton. Hmm--did you loose another blamed plot bunny at me? Aargh! Keep it off! Keep it off me! And I thought, if Araval and Araphant couldn't send troupes, might they have considered going themselves? Well, why not? Araphant may have been a big help, and it would have given him experience he'd need as he struggled to keep Angmar out of Eriador during his own reign, as Tolkien describes in the appendices. I'd always wondered who the King at the Crossroads might have been; and it seemed to me that Meneldil was probably the most likely to be memorialized there, sitting between the capital and what had been his uncle's city. And it says in the appendices and Tale of Years that it was in the last battles with the Wainriders in their first major assault that the Nazgul openly reentered Mordor; I truly suspect this was when the seven or eight would have occupied the remains of Minas Ithil. Sorry--I had been up almost all night anyway. Sunday night is MOVIE night at the apartment, and they chose to watch Return of the King EE. Start that at nine-forty and think how long it's going to go, particularly when it has to be paused from time to time to allow for bathroom breaks and all. They went to bed about 2:30; I didn't get to sleep until 3:30, and was awakened at 5:30 by one wanting to know if he could get his morning meds early (NO!) so he could go out for his walk early, too. I was off at seven and headed for the office to get things posted (the ISP from Mordor was acting up at home again) and caught up on the stories I couldn't read from home due to the hassles with Hughes. I wasn't thinking any too clearly at the time difference from about seven-thirty local time! Heh! And a settlement for the damage done your mother? Excellent!

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Yes, I think that the Hobbits were as much a gift to what became the Shire as the land was to the Hobbits. And it's wonderful to be able to speculate on just how special a place they made of it. As for Frodo's ancestors--I suspect that all Gandalf have met of them so far as well as those he didn't meet were each special and unique; and this one ancestor holds many of the same special gifts we see in Frodo himself, with that unique Fallohide charm that draws out the best in those who are about him. And I find myself more and more wanting to explore the nature of Eruhael Baggins, young Fosco and Cyclamen's son who insisted he have that name. What a puzzle that name must have been to the staid folk of the Shire!

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Oh, I agree, Linda--Jenner might well have been preumpted by folk in an alternate view of our history, just as I have Gondorian explorers bringing back quinine and other herbs and plants from the Americas. After all, potatoes and squashes had to come into the continent in some manner so that Hobbits might enjoy fish and chips! Somehow I missed responding to these reviews--sorry about that!

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Oh, you have them pegged indeed. Now I have to figure out the Jenner reference--I fear I'm out of touch with much of current popular culture. And although he might not have been able to get rid of the wights I think Gandalf would have done his best to see them contained. So glad you responded to this one.

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The relationship of cowpox to immunity to smallpox led to the development of smallpox vaccine, which doesn't have to be as deeply injected as many other vaccines--a mere scratch of the skin with the vaccine is enough to lead to development of immunity. Certainly my mother and stepdad both had notable scars on their upper arms from being vaccinated in the forties; I reportedly was vaccinated before reentering the U.S. after my father's death when I was still a baby, and I don't appear to have developed any kind of scar at all. In Europeans, where smallpox was endemic, over time many folk inherited sufficient resistance to smallpox they would recover; however when immigrants to the colonies in the Americas introduced native peoples to the disease they died wholesale; some xenophobic agents and government officials made blankets that had been used to wrap individuals infected with smallpox available to tribes at government sponsored trading posts, deliberately causing widespread deaths. It's one of the nastier historic moments in the history of the U.S. The wights of the barrowdowns appeared to be fairly localized to the ancient cemetery itself, although they did appear to have some influence in the stone circle where the four Hobbits took their afternoon nap and awoke to find evening descending rapidly and the fog gathering. The probability that Angmar was involved in the infestation of the place with wights is certainly implied in the appendices in the Tale of Years; why they didn't appear to affect those who traveled the Road was a question I've often asked myself as I've reread the books and more stories regarding travel between the Shire and Bree. Saruman may have developed the gift of persuasion; but it has seemed to me that he never appears to have really done a lot to promote the welfare of the various people of Middle Earth; while our peripatetic Gandalf was always on the move between one area and another, and at least in the North was greeted positively in the various places where he visited. That he would be one of those who would help folks face the problems afflicting them and find solutions and then share those solutions just seems likely to me; but where in the North his aid was recognized for what it was, while in Gondor and elsewhere he was apparently seen as one who came in the wake of problems and then was seen as one who enjoyed dealing with misery where in reality he was undoubtedly only trying to bring word on what was found to work elsewhere. As for Sauron--since the great plague in the time of Telemnar came out of the east, that he was involved is most likely; and that he'd continue experimenting with sending other contagions out to try to kill as many in Gondor and Arnor as possible also seemed very likely. I've just tried to imagine just what kinds of plagues he might have employed at different times. Anyway, am glad that for once Saruman hasn't appeared to be a total loss. Thanks so much for the feedback.

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To deal with one whose family succumbed to the new plague and find such a simple thing appears to have protected her and another would impress Gandalf, I think, as it would Elrond. I love to think of the various ways Sauron and his folk, including Angmar, tried to attack the one remaining line of Kings in the northern kingdom--after all, we're nearing the end of that of the southern kingdom already. I admit I don't know for certain precisely how cowpox is spread from cows to humans, but thought this made sense. And to think that once the connection was made Arveleg would find himself trying to figure out how to use that information to protect his folk was amusing. Here he and his son are, trained as healers by Elrond, realizing they have reason to ENCOURAGE a disease among their folk in order to protect them against a worse one let loose by Dol Guldur--that must have felt VERY odd just to contemplate. I remember in grade school reading a "Dick and Jane" story in third grade in which one of them gets a small pox vaccination, a prophylactic move that started in the general population of the U.S. during WWII, if I remember correctly, and the class discussing it and how Dr. Salk came up with polio vaccinations. My older brother was one of the very first children to get a polio shot, and as they refined the vaccine, my mother insisted I get a new round each time they came out with a new version. I must have had at least six versions of the vaccine over the years, ending with the first they put on sugar cubes. I'd have held out for that one, if I'd had the chance. I'm terribly needlephobic. I don't do flu shots at all, partly because of my intense fear of needles, that got worse after an emergency operation some years ago; but mostly because I appear to be one of those who gets intensely sick every time I get a flu shot--or at least I did for the four my mother insisted I get while still in public school. Thanks so much for the note.

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Oh, I agree about wanting to slap the white wizard. And I do think that Gandalf would appreciate satchels made and gifted to him by Hobbits. I rather think he'd have loved the diminutive race since he became aware of it, myself. Living alongside Galadriel, could Nimrodel have been able to avoid her own bouts of foresight? Why did Amroth decide not to remain in Middle Earth and leave when he did, and why did his beloved stay so long behind him that she could get lost as she did? In contemplating these questions, I found this scene writing itself. Thanks so much for the feedback.

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I suspect the North has always given Gandalf more heed than the south; certainly they gave him more respect. But those from Dunland and environs aren't likely to have paid anywhere near enough attention to him.

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Yes, his is the great endeavor, to see to it each people, when the time comes, is ready to do its own part in fighting the final attempt of Sauron to rule all. Thank you so much, French Pony, and good to hear from you!

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I can imagine it was indeed long. Have been there and done that, of course. And am so glad you appreciated the bag and the meetings with more of those become legend by the time Aragorn and Frodo were born.

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Oh, I think I agree about Gandalf's frustration level with Saruman. I'd forgotten that Amroth and Nimrodel were still lingering in Middle Earth at this time; that they might have come to know Gandalf as well as Galadriel and Celeborn seems possible. Then there's the wonder as to why they chose to sail; as he'd been south to Dol Amroth, I suspected for Amroth it could easily be that he had the Sea Longing already; and it appears that the Elves of southern Gondor and those of Lothlorien were allied and thus probably kindred, and most likely those stationed in Gondor were sea traders as well as boat builders. However, it appears they took little if any part in the doings of southern Gondor and had little interaction with many of the Men who surrounded them.

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You are certainly correct about the need for a Hobbit or two. Gandalf is learning the proper appreciation of Hobbits; and it's probably as well Saruman hasn't retained what Gandalf might have told him of the Hobbits' fierceness in protecting their own, or he'd never have considered sending his folk to conquer the Shire so much later. Saruman has his good points; but I agree they are a bit hard to see at times. At least he hasn't gone totally corrupt as yet.

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Could Nimrodel have foreseen she would not come to the Undying Lands on the ship her beloved had wrought? I have no idea; but as one who lived as she did alongside Galadriel for many years, I'm certain she must have had some level of foresight.

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I am so glad you felt moved by it, Shirebound. I am indeed honored as well. And how much this one through his tireless wandering the face of the Free Peoples deserved such moments to be fully Himself from time to time. Am so glad you agree.