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| The Blue Wizard Blues by GamgeeFest | 5 Review(s) |
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| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 6/23/2007 |
| Bravo, Frodo! You have faced your torn, violated self squarely in the eye and can now move beyond that and live again and from the torn threads sew a new self. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: It has been a long bumpy pot-hole-filled road for Frodo to finally arrive at this spot. His self-abusiveness, while not exactly the main culprit in his post-Quest illnesses, certainly didn't help and even contributed to how ill he became. Now that he realizes this, he will be able to put the pieces back together to form a whole, and yes, hopefully, live again. :) | |
| Althea | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 6/6/2007 |
| This chapter certainly increased the tension. First there was Semira's chilling warning about the wizards and then there was Frodo's soul-searching examination of his motives for agreeing to the new quest. You really had me worried about Frodo for a while. I was so relieved that he realized that he wants to live. Now that my worry for Frodo has been lessened a bit, I'm wondering what Sauron is up to and when and how the Blue Wizards will make their first move. This is such an exciting story. Author Reply: Semira just couldn't leave quietly, could she? After Rick pressuring Sauron all that time to allow him to speak to her, she ends up being the one to (sort of) spill the beans. Why she did that is up to debate. ;) Frodo has a huge task ahead of him, and escaping into death just isn't a solid Plan B this time around. It's crucial that Frodo go forward with clear intentions. The Blue Wizards will be making their first appearance in the next chapter, so sit tight! :D | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 6/4/2007 |
| So, Frodo is at last choosing life over death; and he and Sam find freedom in that choice. And I wonder about Semira and her affiliations, and hope we learn of them soon. Author Reply: Frodo may not have consciously chosen death, but it's quite clear how seductive that idea was to him. Thankfully, Rick was able to help him realize what he truly does want, and just in time. He will not go quietly into that dark night. ;) Now he and Sam have a clear path ahead of them, and they are both all the more determined to come out the other side. Semira certainly left Rick with a lot to think about as well. He's made a promise and he won't back down from it, however much it might frighten him. Thanks for reading! | |
| cookiefleck | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 6/2/2007 |
| Wow, this was a really powerful chapter and went places I did not anticipate. Frodo's self-realization process was fascinating. (The Choices of Master Frodo, eh?) After that, the final conversation between Sam and Frodo was a satisfying conclusion for this reader. Well done! Author Reply: Thank you, cookie! This chapter has been a long time coming, ever since Sauron and Rick met the hobbits in the Shire. Everything has been leading to this, Frodo's final lesson, his self-realization as you call it. Frodo has set up a lot of wall for himself since the quest, and this is the final one that needed taking down. There was a danger of that final conversation becoming long and maudlin. Thankfully, hobbits tend to take things lightly and with Frodo and Sam, who know each other so well, there's not a lot of need for saying everything that's on their minds. They understand what isn't said just as much as they do what is. Thanks for reading! | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 6/2/2007 |
| Nope, I haven't forgotten about this story! School has just been soooo crazy, so I've had to read literally in spare minutes. (It took two weeks to get through the last chapter!) Rick is a very good story teller! What a wonderful tale for them to hear just then, almost on the borders of Khand. Oh, I am sorry to see Semirah go. I don't believe she's an enemy; she seemed to have grown quite attached to them. Poor Rick, though, learning how she perceived him. Wow, the latter part of this chapter was powerful! I have to wonder, did Sauron know Rick's question would arouse Frodo to new determination, or was a Higher Power at work here? He throws the stick down onto the dirt and stands swiftly. He turns, intending to go into the tent to wake Sam, only to find Sam already there, looking up at him in wonder and surprise as water bubbles happily in the pot. Frodo pauses, surprised at his unexpected company. For a moment, they do nothing more than stare dumb-founded at each other, then Frodo squares his shoulders, marches over to Sam and beckons for him to stand. When they are eye-level, Frodo says, “We’re not going to die here, Sam,” with more conviction than he has shown in a long time. Sam’s face brightens. Whatever has been running through his master’s head seems to have agreed with him, for here at last is the master he had known before the Quest. This is not a small glimpse grasped in the moments before the volcano begins to erupt. This is his master, finally and truly returned to him. Sam laughs and nods his head approvingly. “That we won’t sir,” he agrees. “Them Blue Wizards don’t stand a chance, I reckon. But if you want to be awake to defeat them, I suggest you get some sleep. I’ll wake you when dinner’s ready.” “Thank you Sam,” Frodo says, and Sam knows it to mean more than just dinner. “It’s not a bother, sir,” Sam replies. They embrace briefly, then Sam returns to his stew and Frodo goes inside to his sleeping roll and settles down to the best sleep he’s had in weeks. Oh, I love it! All that really caught me off guard. It was very well done! So, will Frodo get to stay in this AU? Please? :) God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Rick does understand the importance of good timing when it comes to his stories. I'm sure he's been waiting and waiting for the right time to tell that story, and the New Year is the best time for a story about new beginnings. It was hard letting Semira go. She's grown on me also. She only was supposed to be a secondary character and she proved to be so much more. It was fun having her around. But don't worry about Rick. He won't let himself be bothered very much about the way Semira perceives him. At least, he won't let it change the way he feels about her - and I'm sure he has his own unflattering perceptions about her culture as well. They just have so much left to still learn about each other. And Frodo finally has the veil lifted from his eyes. He's been entrenched in a deep denial for years now and he finally sees the truth for the first time. His final lesson, as it were. I do not doubt that Sauron knew what this confrontation would do to Frodo and that he held this off till the last moment so it would have a full effect on him. This AU won't be covering much of what happens after this adventure, so I don't know if he'll get to stay. I do know he will make every effort now to remain in Middle-earth. Maybe this AU will be more like Tolkien's original ending - he and Sam stay here until they're old and wrinkled, and then sail to Valinor together? Or, maybe not. I'll leave that ending up to you. ;) | |