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| Moments in Time by Larner | 21 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Socrates399 | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/1/2009 |
| I read this story a lot. It's so depressing, (the last line makes me want to cry) yet I love it! It is beautifully written. Do you write any fiction that is not fan-fiction? Author Reply: I am so honored you like this one. It was deliberately angsty, and it was a challenge to keep it centered on auditory response to what was going on. I've written other stories, but hadn't written for a good while before entering the fanfic world. Have tried to get my magnum opus started, but for some reason, even though I know precisely how the story goes getting it written down no longer is as easy as it appeared in high school and college. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/9/2007 |
| Came here via the MEFA's; and noticed I hadn't reviewed this story on-site. It's a chilling piece, absolutely one of your best, and really raises the reader's hackles, as well as bringing up some uncomfortable questions. What a narrow escape Sam and Frodo had here! And of course, it speaks well of Frodo that he had the presence of mind to ask Sam, rather than Aragorn or the younger hobbits, to give him the "mercy"; and of Sam, who accepted an unacceptable duty in the name of friendship. Author Reply: The thought of this one had been with me a short time when I sat down and wrote that, just after another reading of the early chapters of FOTR. It's difficult to know for certain just what Frodo understood of what would happen if the shard reached his heart; but to think of being a lesser wraith under the greater ones and the Enemy would be unthinkable to most people, I think. And again am so honored you appreciate this one, and that you consider it among my best. Thank you so much, Raksha. | |
| pebbles66 | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 10/13/2006 |
| Oh, I love this so much! I read this a few weeks ago, but didn't leave a review. I wanted you to know how perfect this is. I absolutely adore hurt or sick Frodo being taken care of by others, and with both Sam and Aragorn so worried...! Love it! Author Reply: And somehow I missed your review as well. Am so very glad you so appreciated it. A sad story, but one that all too well might have happened at that point. Thank you so much for the feedback. | |
| cookiefleck | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 9/17/2006 |
| This was very moving. What a terrible dilemma for all of them to have to (potentially) face. My favorite line was this: "As he saw Sam’s shoulders begin to shake with silent sobs, the Man knew for certain, remembering to the patrol with Avramir, and how Avramir had made a request of him." And, later, when they travelled to Mordor, wouldn't the eventual possibility of having to kill Frodo in order to destroy the Ring have to have been in the very back of Sam's mind? Perhaps the hardest burden of all to bear, even greater than Frodo's. Author Reply: I fear you're all too right, Cookiefleck. Who knows what all thoughts were going through Sam's mind then, and then to realize that he could do nothing, no more than Elrond had been able to take the Ring from Isildur three thousand years ago? I was just watching "The Green Mile" again the other night, listening to John Coffey grieving that love was being used all over the world to bring folks to their destruction; and this story so fits that sentiment. Thanks so much for the feedback. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 9/9/2006 |
| Sam has such courage. And better from the hands of a friend - if it has to happen. Frodo's arguments against a man being the one to wield the knife have validity - but really, he would rather know that it was Sam who was prepared to protect him at the end. Author Reply: To think of killing another as protecting him is all too often a horrible situation that occurs in times of extreme crises. The doctors throughout the Nazi lands who gave their patients who couldn't leave the hospitals poison rather than allow them to be taken by the SS and treated to unspeakable horrors; the parents of children they know will be brainwashed into soulless killers if they are allowed to be taken from them by repressive governments--and in this case the gentle Hobbit who is in terror of the idea he might have his soul ripped from him and then put to unspeakable uses. Only knowing that in promising to do so Frodo will know peace of mind sufficient to focus on continuing to hold off the shard's advances would convince Sam, I think. Thanks for the feedback, Bodkin. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 9/9/2006 |
| A great story, truly chilling and believable as I Can well imagine this conversation taking place. Author Reply: Yes, considering the circumstances, all TOO believable, and yet one I'm certain had to have taken place. Knowing the potential for coming truly to an evil end, Frodo would have wanted to forestall the situation if at all possible. Thanks for the feedback. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 9/8/2006 |
| He knew Sam, at least, was as wounded tonight as was Frodo.... Indeed. If it would destory Merry or Pippin to do it, it would surely destory Sam. That was the Ring itself talking, asking Sam to do such a thing, but then again Frodo as a wraith would be a terrible thing also. Thank God for Elrond and for giving Frodo the strength to survive! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Had Sam had to follow through on that request, I suspect he'd have gone on bleeding from the soul, and would probably have taken the Ring in place of his Master; and I doubt he would have chosen to leave the Sammath Naur. It IS a chilling situation to contemplate. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 9/7/2006 |
| And the Ranger found himself hating both the shard and the Ring, realizing how both had brought love of one by another to such a pass, remembering the love that had guided the knife that had freed Avramir before the Morgul shard he’d carried had taken him completely. My god! What would I do, if a close friend asked me - no, commanded me - to kill him out of love? I simply have no answer, I'd rather not think about it. And now we see that Strider was forced to do that very thing and Sam did promise to do it also! Wow! Strider's silent prayer did reach the Creator and the Valar! But it was SO close! Perfectly written, Larner! I'm just glad that Sam never had to do what he promised. Author Reply: I can't imagine how hard it must have been to accept such a commission; but I can certainly appreciate just why Frodo asked it of him. And Strider would know what this was like, I'm certain. Of course he would grieve for both of them, and would hate both shard and Ring the more for what is required at this point. And I rejoice that Sam wasn't asked to follow through on that promise. | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 9/7/2006 |
| "he knew Sam, at least, was as wounded tonight as Frodo." And he himself, no doubt, from a long lifetime already spent fighting Shadow. I like your glimpses as Frodo sees his companions's Lights of Being through the filter of the shadow world. A powerful little piece, with a ver Tolkien feel. Author Reply: Again, to be compared to Tolkien himself is the greatest honor of all. Thank you so much! Yes, Aragorn has had well over sixty years of fighting the Enemy in many forms, and this time must be one of those that lead him to make him hate Sauron even more than before. And as normal vision fades, Frodo becomes more aware of others through other means. Thank you again. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 9/6/2006 |
| Larner, here you have picked up a question I had asked myself more than once: What would have been if they hadn’t made it in time to Rivendell? I could never imagine they would simply sit back and watch Frodo becoming a wraith, forever damned to live under the dominion of the Nine and being tormented by them. The death would have been much more kind, and I wondered if Frodo would have been able to commit suicide or if one of the others would have had to do it, and if, then who? It was so very like Frodo, to argue why Aragorn shouldn’t do it and why Sam had to be the one, though it must’ve been absolutely horrible for poor Sam to even *think* about it, let alone to *do* it. Luckily he was spared this. *sigh* As Avramir was mentioned, I already guessed it was Aragorn who had to do the grisly deed. It must be terribly hard to kill a friend, even if it is to protect him from a much more horrible fate. In my opinion, you’ve once more written something which fitted perfectly well in the canon and gave me the feeling it was something Tolkien only left out because of space and time. Author Reply: I can't see even under those circumstances Frodo committing suicide; nor can I see the Ring allowing him to do so. I do think Aragorn would have had to have faced the choice before, and would know the horrors going through Sam's soul at the time. But it was a terrible task to set before Sam under any questions. And that you have expressed you feel that this fits right into the Master's own work is the greatest honor of all. Thank you! | |