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| The Choice of Healing by Larner | 7 Review(s) |
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| Inkling | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/19/2005 |
| Another interesting chapter…Bilbo continues to charm, and I like the way you explain some of the cryptic moments in LOTR, such as Elrond’s words to Frodo as he was leaving Rivendell. Frodo’s symptoms at the Fords put me in mind of an excellent essay available on the Internet, “Too Deeply Hurt” by Karyn Milos. In it she describes Frodo as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I highly recommend it, if you haven’t already read it. Author Reply: Yes, I've read "Too Deeply Hurt" and have urged others to read it, also. I'd read several books set at the end of both world wars which had characters who were suffering from shell shock, so I recognized this in Frodo from the first time I read LOTR at age thirteen-fourteen. As both Arwen and Elrond had indicated there could be peace found for Frodo, I decided to handle the decision allowing Frodo, Bilbo, and Sam this grace in this manner. Certainly I have always felt that this would be a grace desired by most of the great Elves remaining in Middle Earth for Frodo after all he had endured. The focus goes back to Bilbo in a chapter near the end. He is a dear old Hobbit, isn't he? | |
| Ariel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2005 |
| This is a wonderfully fulfilling and delightful story! Like a page from the book we didn't get to read. These are my favorite types of stories - the ones I can get lost in and just read... Thank you for sharing this with us! Author Reply: I hope you continue to find it delightful--a lot of it is pretty sad, I fear. But I am glad you find it a consistent gap filler. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2005 |
| Oh Larner, thank you so much! I have just come back from a few days with my parents. Computerless and suffering withdrawal symptoms. My Mum has M.S, is severely disabled and is prone to nodding off too. So to come back to two chapters of your story was wonderful. I often suspect her of the same habit of eavesdropping. You had me smiling through my tears. Author Reply: I am sure my mother-in-law did this, too. I sorrow she has MS, and hope it is not too terrific a burden for her. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2005 |
| Lovely, sweet....Bilbo especially......keep going, please! Anxious to see the next part soon. I don't usually read serials until they're done with because so often the authors take forever to get to the next part and leave me hanging until I've forgotten what happened in the last...but, well, I just had to dive into this one! cheers Armariel~~~{~@ Author Reply: Thank you for giving this one a try, at least. Hope you continue to enjoy it. Bilbo does return to the story, of course, as he seeks to help Frodo fully accept, but the next parts are focused more on Frodo and Sam. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2005 |
| This is a wonderful beginning for your new story. It was quite interesting to see it from Bilbo's POV. He is truly a dear old Hobbit, it is touching how he tries to held out a bit longer not so much to pass the Old Took but to help Frodo. And it is touching as well that Elrond and Gandalf now will stay longer for Frodo's sake. By the way, I was happy to see your reason for Elladan and Elrohir to staying in Middle-Earth over the departure of their father. After all the fanfictions I've read about them I love them quite much and I had always thought it must have been something like this, to be there for Arwen and Aragorn. Tolkien said it not absolutely clear, and I can't stand the thought they chose mortality. It would be much too cruel to their father to lose all his children after all he has done and suffered over the years. In another point you have exactly written what I thought - it had to be Gandalf to contact the Valar about the fate of the twins and the ringbearers. After all he is a Maia. Can't wait for more! Author Reply: From here on the POV changes, is more Frodo- and Sam-centric. I doubt that the twins would have chosen mortality, but I suspect they'd have considered it a time or two. I have them on the very last ship with Cirdan himself, btw, in my other fics. But I think, if you will, that Gandalf learning about the decision regarding the mortal Ringbearers would be the result of an incoming call, where he was temporarily drawn into his true self by the news needing to be delivered. Tolkien left a lot of details unstated in his work, which is why we are all here, reading and writing so many alternatives from this group's imaginations. | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/28/2005 |
| *sniff* I'll jump right into my favorite parts of this chapter. Sam and athelas and Elrond's complete surprise at Sam's ability - "...he has an affinity for plants...plants will give him what he needs of them." How very Sam that statement is! Bilbo's comment that the Creator prepared Sam for Frodo and the Quest and the comment "I suspect he's been intended as the staff to Frodo's feet from the beginning." How true is that and what an apt comparison! The 3 brothers of the heart - enough said! And the part that seriously made me cry - Gandalf's communication with that in himself that came from the Blessed Realm, Elrond's awe in seeing it, and the news he received...all three Ringbearers may come and the sons of Elrond may linger as long as they will to comfort Arwen, choosing their own time to take ship. Wonderful! "Yet the decision came from beyond the Valar. HE filled them with HIS Light. HE would have them back in HIS presence, but not with that Light wavering or weakened." If I didn't already love this story, I would love it for that statement alone! Lastly, Bilbo the 'possum! I would imagine he would hear all manner of interesting tidbits while "dozing"! :-) I love also how Elrond, Gandalf and Galadriel will delay taking ship for Frodo's sake! (and I caught Gandalf refering to the fact he can't stay any longer for Aragorn or risk becoming like his brother...Saruman, if I remember correctly.????) Lovely, lovely chapter, Larner! linda Author Reply: Actually, the brother I've always envisioned Gandalf as grieving for was Sauron. Manwe and Melkor became the opposite ends of the spectrum among the Ainur and Valar; I see Olorin and Sauron in the same relationship among the Maiar. The stronger the being, the greater the fall if and when it comes. Just think of what Melkor or Sauron might have done had they not fallen to the craze for power over others. And I believe that the Creator would have His creatures fulfilled before they return to Him, not have them still remembering primarily the pain they'd just known. Sitting in a semi-dose and listening would be preferable for someone like Bilbo, I always felt, than falling into full sleep and missing out on great chunks of information and conversation. Not quite an opossum, more like the sloth slowly advancing on the unwary bug that mistakes slow movement for immobility. Glad this feels right to you. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/28/2005 |
| My goodness, what an amazing story. I was fascinated by your interpretation of what happened at the Ford, and how Gandalf communes "with that within himself that came from the Blessed Realm". And Sam's destiny, and... Just lovely. Author Reply: We aren't given much idea of what Frodo experienced at either the Ford or in the shadow of Weathertop on the return journey, so I let myself imagine what he might be perceiving, using Lindelea's perception that Frodo might be suffering from heart failure as a starting place, but also remembering he'd been spider-bit as well. The realizations on how a spider bite can lead to paralysis, some forms of neurological, skeleto-muscular and arthritic degenerative conditions and so on many years down the road have been eye-opening, and have helped spawned the Nuzgul I found under my bed. How would Elves be aware of the grace granted to the mortal Ringbearers as well? It seemed to me it would most likely be through either Gandalf or Glorfindel, who is also partways in the Blessed Realm already according to what Frodo was told after he described what he'd seen at the Ford. However, as the Maiar were created as servants and messengers, I truly felt that Olorin just might be rewarded for his service by being allowed to deliver this most wonderful of messages. As for Sam--he's always been destined to support Frodo, I thought. | |