News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| On a Moonlit Night by Elemmírë | 3 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/16/2006 |
| *sobs* Oh! This is heartbreaking! Poor Drogo, poor Primula...to see them struggle... Author Reply: Sorry for such a late reply, my dear Queen, but I seem to have missed your review here. Thank you for continuing on with such a sad and anguished tale. *hands out another pocket-handkerchief, courtesy of Bilbo* ~Elemmírë~ | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/14/2006 |
| That moment of horror was so great, I'm certain. Although bats DON'T get tangled in hair usually. But now Frodo is indeed an orphan. Author Reply: In my line of work as a Respiratory Ttherapist, I've seen the reactions of those left behind as a loved one dies suddenly and tragically (including victims of drowning) ... it's not a pleasant sight or experience by any means. Yes, the horror Drogo experienced at his own inability to save his beloved wife or later himself will become even more apparent in the remaining chapters when their unexpected deaths are learned of throughout the Shire. I agree, bats do not usually become tangled in hair intentionally. However, as Tolkien's world was created to have existed in a long ago period, I decided to incorporate a very old wive's tale into the events leading to the accident, inspired by Marigold's challenge to me to include a swarm of bats. It used to be said long ago that bats were evil and dark creatures, thus the unenlightened people of the Middle Ages began to fear them. It was also once said that bats would entangle themselves purposefully into peoples' hair. The likely root to this myth was that insect-eating bats seeking prey, dive erratically and sometimes toward and into people (who attract mosquitoes and gnats). It was these occasional instances hundreds of years ago that lead the squeamish and superstitious to believe that the bats were trying to get in their hair on purposes of doing harm. In this chapter, Primula and Drogo unfortunately happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As they were drifting down river, their boat passed a nearby cave that housed a large number of bats. The bats were going about their own business of feeding on insects near the river during the evening, when one's echo location bounced off the hobbits, flew a bit too low, and scared Primula thus making her upset the boat. The subsequent events, will unfortunately affect poor Frodo for the rest of his life. I wanted the accident to seem just that--an accident ... yet one that also occurred under mysterious circumstances that would provoke the unkind rumors that Frodo and the rest of his family would have to hear in whispers and deal with. As always, thank you for reading and reviewing, Larner. I hope you continue to do so :D | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2006 |
| Oh man...I am *not* looking forward to the next chapter, no way. The poor dears, all of them. But I like to believe as at least one author has made it, that today Sam was born so as two guardians are taken away, another takes their place. He is not alone. And, of course, Another watches over him as well. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, I've seen that concept elsewhere as well--that Sam was born to take Drogo and Primula's place. However, I do not have Frodo's parents dying on April 6th, which I believe was implied to be Sam's birthday by Tolkien. The date of April 6 as Sam's birthday is drawn from Appendix D: "... there grew up a custom of making holiday and dancing in the Party Field, when weather permitted, on April 6. Some said that it was old Sam Gardner's birthday, some that it was the day on which the Golden Tree first flowered in 1420, and some that it was the Elves' New Year." (p. 390) I do not intentionally state the sepcific date on which the boating accident took place (just as Tolkien left the actual date open-ended and left to interpretation); but so far in my tales regarding such, I've always had Drogo and Primula dying more towards the middle or end of April, after Sam is born. And while Frodo knew Mrs. Gamgee was very preganant before he and his parents left to visit Buckland, he doesn't yet know that Sam was born while he was away ... in my tales anyway. Sorry for such a lengthy explanation :) No, Frodo is never alone. Unfotunately he won't realize this for quite some time, the poor child (in this particular case). Thanks for reading/reviewing, Antane! ~Elemmírë~ | |