“That’s a lovely story,” Frodo agrees at last. “There’s hope in it. I am glad they found each other.”
Well, I could not have said it better :)
And Frodo needs that hope! He has just been reminded that despite Sauron's efforts to help him cope with the dreams, his anniversary illnesses remain. March the thirteenth - Shelob's Lair!
Semira's reaction to Rick's story does not give me any clue about her true intentions, though. But if Sauron waited for "some ploy of Semira's" at the market, it did not come. Only that dreadful man. I can imagine what he asked for.
So, once again: All bets are off! I'm looking forward to reading more!
Author's reply
I was rather hoping along the same lines as Sam: that her husband would turn up alive after all. But she did get a happy ending all the same, and there is, as Frodo said, hope to be gained from it.
March 13th - was it the anniversary that made Frodo so on edge, that caused the nightmares? Or was it as Sauron said - the close proximity of Mordor and Frodo's unresolved guilt and fears? They both rather fed on each other and it is just impossible to say which was more cataclysmic. Only October will really tell for certain, but this story won't be covering that.
Semira doesn't give a lot away here, does she? She plays it very close to the chest, so if you're not looking closely, you're not going to see the cards. She has been given some food for thought here, though - a new perspective she has not considered before.
Thanks so much for reading! :)
cookiefleck
· 27 May 2007
· Chapter 14: Harnen
What an imagination you have! Can't wait to read more.
Author's reply
Thank you, cookie! More is coming, as soon as I can figure out how to piece together what use to be the last section of this chapter to the beginning of the next one. ;)
harrowcat
· 27 May 2007
· Chapter 14: Harnen
You made me cry with this chapter GF - in a good way. I was with my best friend when her mother died and have just bought her a pair of rose bushes for her garden in lieu of flowers at the funeral!
Author's reply
Well, I'm glad it was in a good way. Roses mean so many different things: love, friendship, loss, and even, in this case, new beginnings.
I hope your friend is doing all right.
cookiefleck
· 23 May 2007
· Chapter 13: Recovery
Hmmm, I don't think I trust Semira. I guess I'm just too protective of Sam (oh, and Frodo, too) to let down my guard. That line about the servant killing the master was chilling, by the way. I like how you portrayed Sam's reaction, subtly but effectively.
Author's reply
Sauron is right about one thing: if Semira supports the Eye, she's against the hobbits; if she supports the hobbits, she's against the Eye. It's just a matter of figuring out which scenario it is.
Sam, just as with any hobbit, doesn't care much for thoughts of killing and torment. To know that someone could disregard a life with such callousness would be very disturbing to him. His natural reaction, even after everything he's been through, would be to push the thought away and not linger over it.
Thanks for reading!
harrowcat
· 21 May 2007
· Chapter 13: Recovery
and they are both allowed to incorrige errm encourage us as much as possible!
Author's reply
LOL! Rick might be upset about the ulterior motive, but you won't hear him complaining overly much either! Who knew that Sauron could be such a rascal? ;)
Andrea
· 21 May 2007
· Chapter 13: Recovery
To now be told the exact same thing by the Maker of the Ring is an altogether different thing. Frodo can no longer deny what everyone has been trying to impress upon him these last three years, and for the first time since the destruction of the Ring, he sees a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
Finally he begins to accept it! That is wonderful!
So, he has only to distract the wizards? That should be possible with all the power he is now able to control.
However, I still don't know what to think of Semira! Sauron distrusts her, and Rick has desperately fallen in love with her. So his opinion doesn't count ;-)
“Sweet dreams,” Sauron calls after him, and Frodo finally bursts into silent giggles.
*Grin* Sauron IS incorrigible, but it's good to see Frodo giggle!
Author's reply
Yep, thankfully, Frodo knows he won't be winning any arguments with Sauron over the nature of the Ring and his so-called failure to destroy it. It will still take him a very long time to fully believe it, but he's on the way now and that's the important thing.
It should be easy to distract them, shouldn't it? ;) *evil cackle*
Rick certainly does have smoke in his eyes when it comes to Semira. But let's face it, Sauron's also a wee bit paranoid. A lifetime of doing, seeing, speaking evil has caused him to see things in a very skewered manner which, up until now, Rick has been rather successful in correcting. They're both bringing their own perspective to the table, and neither of them are seeing things entirely clearly.
But that's not to say Sauron won't use Rick's puppy love to his advantage when need be. ;) LOL! But even Sam can't complain too much if it helps Frodo to laugh again. And it's not like Rick didn't enjoy it. ;) hehe
Thanks for reading!
Antane
· 20 May 2007
· Chapter 3: The Ring-bearers
So that's why the dreams are so bad. The poor dears - to have them both suffering so terribly. This is the Sam who always was and also one who has been twisted too far by helplessly watching one so beloved fail in front of him. Still he is there, doing all he can, still loving and that would never end. And now it appears that Sam was listening at the door, but still he leaves his treasure alone with two strangers he knows are not who they seem. Very nice to see Sauron behaving in a more gentlemanly fashion. And understanding of Rose for her to know that Sam would never leave his master's side especially now. She knows how deep that bond of love is, as deep as his love for her and probably goes back as far. Sorry it's taking so long to get through this, so busy! :(
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Larner
· 19 May 2007
· Chapter 12: The One Ring
I have the feeling she has a good idea as to who they are. Now, if all can find they can trust one another. And it's increasingly plain Rick favors her!
No, Frodo couldn't do it alone; and only he could have done what was done to bring the Ring there to begin with. Am interested for you it is his left hand--movie-verse, then, as book-verse it was the ring finger of his right hand.
Wonderful look at the lands they traverse.
Author's reply
Not much gets past Semira's attention. It won't take much for her to discern the truth now. Which will, of course, make Sauron all the more suspicious. Rick is definetly sweet on Semira and he's not exactly trying to hide *that*. I doubt that he could, even if he did try. ;)
Frodo has long been told, by just about everyone, that he accomplished more than any could have possibly hoped for. Now, he will have to accept it. It will be a slow process, but he's never going to win an argument with Sauron on this topic. ;) Left hand - either I couldn't find the reference saying it was the right hand, or I just didn't look and took a 50/50 guess. Naturually, I would guess the wrong hand. LOL!
Thanks for reading!
harrowcat
· 19 May 2007
· Chapter 12: The One Ring
A lot for Semira to think about and the others to be concerned about! Not easy conditions to keep identites secret after all.
Author's reply
Oh indeed! Semira now has a few more pieces of this puzzle, though she's still a long way from seeing the whole picture. You can bet Sauron will be keeping an especially sharp eye on her from here on out. Given the close proximity they must keep throughout the days and nights, and how reliant they are on Semira to guide them, it's a wonder they've managed to keep their secrets for this long.
Thanks for reading!
Queen Galadriel
· 16 May 2007
· Chapter 12: The One Ring
Oh, drat the tricksy computer. Review part two--since my goofy machine decided to randomly post the other before I was done.
And I just realized I read the last chapter and didn't review (had a lot going on at school at the time, though that's always true anymore). Sorry! Semira is definitely very intelligent and observant, and she *seems* trustworthy...but is she really? I certainly hope so, all things considered, especially because Frodo and Sam just gave themselves away. That's all they need--someone angry at someone else when all the time they're getting nearer and nearer to Cand and Frodo's dreams are coming back and everything. But whoever Semira may really be, it's hilarious to see Rick fall so hard for her! *snickers*
As always I adore your Sam! So sensible and sweet and just Sam all around of course! Nope, the wood won't gather itself. :)
I really like the discussion and comparing of hands after the dream. I was hoping this would be dealt with at some point, and this is a very interesting view. I'm always interested to see how others write it.
More soon, pretty please with mushrooms on top! :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
There's a lot about Semira that needs pondering about. As a slave, it would be to her advantage to be observant. Yet there's more reason for Sauron to worry about her than just that. Her master for instance. ;) We'll be learning a little bit more about her next chapter. :)
Frodo's dreams chose a rather bad time to return, but there's a reason why it happened now. It was hinted at a couple of chapters ago, and Sauron will guess fairly close to the mark if not directly on it in the next chapter.
*snerk* Rick is smitten, no doubt about it. Sauron really should be careful how much time he allows Rick to spend alone with her. LOL!
That's Sam - focus on what needs to get done and don't worry about things that you can't change. He'll stand by Frodo through anything, which only makes Frodo that much more insistant on protecting him.
It occured to me, rather late in the game, that Sauron would be missing a finger as well. Of course, when I first started writing this story, I had no idea where it was going to go, but once I got serious about and really started thinking things over, I just couldn't let this point go undiscussed. Frodo has been told by nearly everyone that his 'failure' at Mt. Doom was far from failure. To hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, will drive that message home much more clearly and completely than before. Frodo won't be able to use the usual arguments with Sauron as he does with everyone else. With time, he will finally be able to realize that he really did not fail at all.
Thanks for reading! More will be coming soon, now that RL has calmed down. :)
Queen Galadriel
· 16 May 2007
· Chapter 12: The One Ring
Oh, wow, what a chapter! So much to love it would take me more time than I have now to pick out my favorite parts. But my very favorite was the last, after that horrible dream. At last this is being dealt with!
Andrea
· 15 May 2007
· Chapter 12: The One Ring
As for failing to throw it into the Fire, you could not have, not even if you attempted to throw yourself into the Fire with it. You would have gone into the Fire, but the Ring would have abandoned you before you jumped from the precipice.
Wow! That is an interesting thought! It never occured to me before, but I think it is very likely! The Ring did that before, by abandoning first Isildur and then Gollum.
That Sauron would try to convince Frodo that he did not fail ...! Nearly unbelievable, but in the context of this story it is very fitting.
Poor Frodo, though! All those terrible images he saw! I hope Sauron will teach him to block those dreams, not only for the sake of the mission, but also for his own sake!
Author's reply
One of Tolkien's original (and very briefly entertained) ideas for the climax of the story was for Frodo to throw himself into Mt. Doom to destroy the Ring. I think he even mentions this later in one of his letters. It's an interesting and horrifying thought, and I got to thinking about it while I wrote this chapter. Would the Ring really have allowed itself to be destroyed in this manner? I think it's very possible that it would have abandoned Frodo if it could have perceived his intention with enough time to slip from his finger. Given this viewpoint, there's really very little that Frodo can do but to accept that it really wasn't his fault he couldn't destroy the Ring.
There's several reasons the dreams have returned earlier than expected. One was hinted at earlier a couple of chapters ago and a few more will be brought up next chapter. Be assured that Sauron will give all care to Frodo that he can. The less dreams he has, the better!
Andrea
· 14 May 2007
· Chapter 11: Harondor
Oh dear! It seems I have missed this chapter!
Semira is a very interesting character! Who is her master, I wonder?
She seems to know something about the mission, but she does not know much about hobbits, otherwise she would not have used the word "stunted".
So, Rick fell in love with her from the first moment on? I like that!
And I'm looking forward to see him give *his* horse a proper name :)
The next chapter has to wait until tomorrow, for it is far too late ...
Author's reply
Semira became a much more important character than I originally intended her to be. Sauron is right to wonder about her master - she's not all she appears to be. Whether this is good or bad for them is yet to be seen.
LOL. Well, she doesn't know they're hobbits does she, just that they're very short people. In Harad, they would be called 'stunted', because they *are* stunted. ;)
Rick's one smitten kitten. He's likely to be dazed for much of this next leg of the journey. ;) *His* horse is rather picky when it comes to names - maybe that's the real reason it doens't have one yet. *sniggers*
Thank you so much for reading!
Antane
· 13 May 2007
· Chapter 2: Hobbiton
Oh, poor Frodo! This is not good. I know he's drinking to escape the dreams, but I would think if he drank too much he would pass out and then the dreams would come anyway. And poor Sam to watch madness encroach upon his beloved master.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Frodo's having a tough time of it, and likewise so is Sam. They're both being pushed to their limits. The drinking doesn't help, it might even contribute to the hallucinations. Things should get very interesting when Sauron arrives.
Thanks for reading!
Antane
· 6 May 2007
· Chapter 1: The Storyteller
Well, that's an interesting take on things - all the malice and hatred etc poured into the Ring and then when it's gone all the malice is gone and the former goodness returns. Sauron's forgiven - wonderful, "the poster child of Divine Mercy" as it were and he's truly sorry this time. I love that part. The queen recommended this highly and I am finally getting to it. Should be an interesting journey for both Sauron and Frodo.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Sauron is far from forgiven by the vast majority of Middle-earth, but he does plan to make amends for what he has done as best he can.
Thanks for giving this odd little fic a try! I hope you enjoy it!
Larner
· 5 May 2007
· Chapter 11: Harondor
Very observant, this young lady. And they do indeed need to learn the name of her master as yet. Is he kin to An'Sohrabi, I find myself wondering, in spirit if not in blood? Heh!
Author's reply
They'll have to be extra careful not to say too much when Semira is around. She's much too smart for her own good! ;)
harrowcat
· 5 May 2007
· Chapter 11: Harondor
Rick only hums thoughtfully at this. Then he sighs again, rolls over and falls to sleep. Across the fire, Semira smiles also and she too goes to sleep.
Oh dear - smitten, definitely smitten unless this is some sort of spell she has cast.
Sauron takes the first watch and he mostly keeps a watchful eye on their guide. It had not escaped his attention that she never told them the name of her master.
Yes - I had noticed that too. The mistress of misdirection eh?
Author's reply
Eep! I thought I responded to this, but I see that I missed it! So sorry!
Yep, Rick's been bitten by the love bug, which Sauron and Frodo, in particular, will find quite entertaining.
Semira certainly does know how to evade a direct question. It appears she has been well-trained.
Andrea
· 3 May 2007
· Chapter 10: Minas Tirith
...and when Arwen comes to its bittersweet end, there are tears in the eyes of her audience, save for Sauron, who is troubled.
Wow! What a moment! Sauron definitely regrets what he did and I'd say he even feels ashamed! I never had thought that possible. But in the context of your story it is believable!
I loved it when Frodo tried to find the secret entrance back into the tunnels and how unconfortable the hobbits felt with their boots - and, of course, the rat-catcher! So, Meriadoc the Magnificent is afraid of rats? LOL!!!
I'm looking forward to reading more! There might be lots of unexpected things waiting for them along the road...
Author's reply
Knowing what he'd done and hearing the story as told from a descendant of Luthien, who is said to have much of her ancestor's beauty, are quite different things. I don't think he really considered, until this moment, just how much this ancient history still lives in the hearts of so many in Middle-earth.
Frodo just couldn't resist trying to find that entrance again. ;) As for the boots, well, that was always going to be awkward. They'll be very glad when they can finally be rid of them, but that is, sadly, a long way away.
LOL! Merry and the rats is a very appealing idea, that I'm seriously thinking about bringing into my regular fanon. The picture it paints is just too vivid! :D
Thanks for reading! I don't think I'm giving anything away to say there will be a couple of surprises on the road. ;)
Ah, how nice to have a rather laid-back chapter after so much intensity. (Well, relatively laid-back, LOL.) But the end was almost a cliff-hanger! Poor Frodo and Sam, I'd think it would be very, very hard to keep up the pretence of being kids for the amount of time they have to. But if no one questions you...it might not be so bad, I guess.
I'm so excited to know how the rest of this is going to go! I only hope they don't have trouble with water supplies; our poor Hobbits shouldn't have to go through that again.
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
The hobbits deserved a nice restful day before beginning the next leg of their journey. They have a lot of traveling ahead of them and more than a couple of surprises, not to mention their final destination.
We'll see how successful the hobbits are, or aren't, at acting like children. ;)
Thanks for reading!
Larner
· 1 May 2007
· Chapter 9: The Cave
There's always more than one way in the White City, isn't there? Heh!
So glad they get to be with Aragorn again.
Author's reply
Indeed there is. I'm sure there are even entrances that Aragorn doesn't know about yet. ;)
The hobbits will be taking full advantage of their day off from traveling. :)
Thanks for reading!
harrowcat
· 29 April 2007
· Chapter 9: The Cave
Secret passages and secret meetings and growing trust what more could we ask? Sometime I would like to see Sauron approaching Aragorn for the first time to propose this. I bet it wasn't all smooth sailing!
Author's reply
Knowing Sauron, he would have waited for Aragorn to bring up the subject, then find a way to make Aragorn think it was his idea. ;) When that failed, he would rely on reason. lol!
Thanks for reading! I'm glad you're enjoying the story!
Queen Galadriel
· 28 April 2007
· Chapter 9: The Cave
More and more twists! What a very clever plan! Frodo and Sam won't enjoy the boots though, I imagine. :)
The secret entrance was a very good idea. I wondered how they'd get in without being noticed at all.
And I just love Arwen, the wife of the high king, and not too good to cook, clean, and wash and mend clothes.
Everything in this chapter was amazingly well thought out, right down to the Hobbits' sleeping quarters. Perfect place to put them where they wouldn't be noticed, for the simple reason that the room wasn't being used yet.
Can't wait to see how this plays out!
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
The bane of all hobbits - footwear! LOL. They won't enjoy the boots at all, but they'll put up with them while they have to.
It occured to me while trying to think up a way of sneaking them into the Citadel that the great huge mountain sitting flush against the city would be an excellent way of smuggling people into and out of the city. As it does make the city vulnerable though, only those in the highest authority would have knowledge of the tunnels and how to navigate them.
Well, if Galadriel can lend her hand to making the cloaks the Fellowship were given, then I really can't see Arwen as thinking herself above mending and baking. Also, these are the Ring-bearers, to whom she owes so much, not to mention, in a way, her marriage. She would gladly do anything to make their stay enjoyable.
Aragorn had other reasons for choosing that room for the hobbits. With the adjoining door, he would have easy access to the room should anything go amiss at night - such as Frodo having another nightmare.
The second part of the journey will be beginning shortly. :D Thanks for reading!
Andrea
· 28 April 2007
· Chapter 9: The Cave
Wow! A secret entrance to the King's Garden in Minas Tirith! That's a brilliant idea. I would like to have your imagination!
So, there was definitely a conspiracy going on, involving Sauron, Aragorn and Rick to make the hobbits come with them and face the Blue Wizards.
Aragorn's trust in Sauron (his greatest former enemy!) is remarkable. And his plan to give them a disguise as mourners sounds really good.
I think I told you that before, but this story is getting better and better with every chapter! I can't wait for the next one - but wait I must :)
Thank you!
Author's reply
It's not anything that ever occured to me before writing this story, but it does make a certain amount of sense that there would be passages in the mountain behind the city. I mean, the city does sit up right against the mountain. All those years that Minas Tirith has been there, I would be more surprised if no one ever thought to tunnel into the mountain.
Sauron is a master planner, and Aragorn has plenty of experience bringing down tyrants. ;) Aragorn is enlightened, just as Frodo is, as well as Arwen. They are able to see Sauron's light also and know that he has changed. Still, I'm sure Aragorn will be keeping a close watch (via the palantir) on things while the hobbits remain in his kingdom.
Thank you so much for your praise, Andrea! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! :D *hugs*
Larner
· 20 April 2007
· Chapter 8: The Dark Lord
Inoculating them against the greater evil to come, is he? I feel sorry for him, and am glad he gave the vision of the happiness Beren and Luthien knew at the last.
Author's reply
This wasn't the way Sauron wanted to go about doing things, but it worked, much better than he could have hoped. And Rick truly has had a humanizing effect on him, for him to show his doubts and to have given that last vision to Sam, to undo the damage done as best he could. Thanks so much for reading!
Andrea
· 19 April 2007
· Chapter 8: The Dark Lord
“Mr. Frodo and I, what with all we went through in Mordor to destroy your Ring, we got off rather easy it seems,” Sam says. “I thought that was the worst possible thing as could happen to a person, but I was wrong. I was wrong about you also. You’re not the same person now as you were back then. It’s just, I didn’t really know you then, so I couldn’t see the difference that Mr. Frodo sees.”
Wow! Those images very terrible! But through them Sam saw that Sauron has changed completely. And if even Sam trusts him now (more than Frodo, it seems), I won't disagree ;-)
Both hobbits are prepared now to face the Blue Wizards! And Frodo is able to protect Sam, if need be!
So, let's go on :)
Author's reply
Sauron really didn't hold anything back, and though it may have frightened both of the hobbits at the time, it truly was for the best, in ways that they can't even fathom right now. Frodo will come around, once he calms down and realizes that Sam hasn't been permanently harmed by this, and knowing that he will need to protect Sam from such a torture in the future will help Frodo be more focused.
Thanks for reading!