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In Empty Lands by Larner	9 Review(s)
Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/19/2009
I enjoyed this look at how the Fellowship were chosen and why. I'm pleased you mentioned Paladin Took went to Bree ! Author Reply: Am so glad you appreciated that. I've written in the past that Paladin went to Bree at least once, so I felt I should acknowledge that now. And I suspect that the One took a good deal of pleasure for prompting each one of the Fellowship to be there, at the right place at the right time.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/4/2009
I warn you, Elrond--Hobbits are themselves tenacious, as you know. Peregrin Took, however, has raised that talent to new heights! lol Quite true! And together, these four have to be the most stubborn and tenacious lot the Shire has to offer! Anyway, we all know who will go in the end, but it is interesting to see how the discussions might have gone that were held during these days while the Fellowship was formed. Enjoyed the underlying challenge between Legolas and Gimli and their arguments with their escort/father. I can so see that happen! It's understandable that Elrond has his doubts about allowing Pippin to go; but in hindsight, his impetuousness was sometimes useful. Though I have to agree with Frodo – Pal will never act on any warning Pippin or even Merry could bring. We know how he kept denying the facts, after all, when they returned. Author Reply: Oh, I'm certain Paladin Took would have taken any warning sent from Rivendell with a great deal of suspicion. And it's been fun trying to think how Gimli and Legolas might have found themselves competing from the beginning. I'm certain they would have been very concerned, however, that proper word get back to the lords of their own lands so as to be ready when Mordor sends again. And I'm SO glad that these did prove to be as tenacious as they did! Heh!

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/1/2009
'Think of this as a very early attempt by the Ring Itself to test the Man's defenses. There will be more of these moments as the quest begins in earnest, so be forewarned!' MANY thanks for the forewarning - otherwise, I'd have had trouble. I love the idea that it's the Ring - great concept. I will pay attention and not jump down your throat, tear out your eyes, or otherwise maim you for future attempts to vilify my hero! g xxxoooo Author Reply: Indeed so, Agape! The Ring would begin to realize fairly early, I'd think, that there was an uncertain, if not a truly weak, link within the Fellowship, and would always be probing to try to find who might be suborned into doing Its will.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 7/30/2009
Love the discussion on who should go and who should stay, wait till the KIng of Mirkwood finds out where his son has gone off too. Gimli did very well for himself, outspeak his father. Author Reply: I'm so glad you appreciate it, Grumpy. It must have been a difficult decision for Elrond to make. Thanks so!

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 7/27/2009
Excellent chapter once again. I loved how you pulled each of the 'races' into it and gave convincing arguments for each to be a part of (or not) this Quest. Couple little things.... 'he returned with a bow he knew his father would have approved of...' Honestly, I think this is such a telling line (whether you devised it so or not)... Boromir, IMHO, was always under the careful scrutiny of his father. A hard life indeed, yet he overcame it and fought well for the Fellowship, until the end. I believe the Ring used their relationship to smite Boromir down. 'The Gondorian, however, felt a twinge of annoyance that the Elven lord would show this mark of respect to a mere Perian when he had merely inclined his head to the Steward’s son.' On this one - I just don't quite agree. When Boromir introduces himself at the Council, he pointedly leaves out any kind of an introduciton but his name. I know he was deemed 'proud,' but I think this was the justifiable pride of a warrior - He was Gondor's best - and not the pride of a man. Boromir felt uncomfortable as he looked down at the food that lay before him, feeling for the first time in some months that he ought to rise for the Standing Silence, considering the solemnity of those gathered to share the meal. I really, really liked this sentence. Cannot even tell you why, but it struck a nerve deep inside me... Again - great chapter. Author Reply: I'm so glad the two lines struck you positively, and am sorry the other came off less well. I can certainly appreciate why it feels uncomfortable to you. Boromir's reputation as the leading warrior of Gondor would be indeed a primary part of his self-image, and rightly so, I agree. And I did seek to indicate that he immediately recognized that the annoyance with the lack of recognition was unworthy so he suppressed it. Think of this as a very early attempt by the Ring Itself to test the Man's defenses. There will be more of these moments as the quest begins in earnest, so be forewarned! As for the numbering snafu--well, blame the fact I posted first on HASA this time! This is the one site where we can indicate prefaces and epilogues and Author's Notes separately in the numbering system, so on the other sites where I post it is chapter 13 rather than chapter 12 as it is here. So, when I got here, having posted in reverse order, if you will, I continued on with chapter thirteen! Ah, such is life for those of us who post at multiple sites! Thank you so very much for the correction and the comments!

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 7/27/2009
“You should try standing against a Took, a Brandybuck, and a Gamgee together some time!” Frodo muttered, and the Wizard gave a soft laugh. ... “You are loved by your own, Frodo Baggins!” Love it! And what is our dear shrugging for?! Dear me. But I love that no matter how stubborn a Baggins is, there are those who are even more so and he's got to face that there are those who love him more than their own lives, difficult though that may be for him to accept, thinking himself responsible for their safety. But they think they are responsible for his - this is why A Conspiracy Unmasked in my favorite chapter, as whole chapters ago, in whole tale, all of Merry's wonderful words of love for his cousin. I was just thinking recently that we haven't seen a chapter of this recently and here it is. Very cool. Like Elrond's words to Frodo as both Bagginses enter the room too. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Am so glad you find it fitting, Antane. And of course he's loved by his own! It's why WE love him, too! Thanks so!

Silmarien	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 7/27/2009
Excellent as always. If I might venture a comment, I doubt Frodo would refer to hobbit archers as "bowmen". Author Reply: Thank you, Silmarien. I'm not so certain that Frodo would speak of "bowhobbits." I agree Tolkien did speak of "gentlehobbits," but in a few cases he used both the word and the suffix "-men" generically simply to indicate males of any species, including within the Shire. Certainly in the Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin the Elves often speak of making certain their "men" are safe rather than making certain their "ellyn" are safe. I could, I suppose, have chosen to go with the more generic "archers", but decided just to use "bowmen" instead. I hope it doesn't disturb you too much!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 7/27/2009
I like this take on choosing the rest of the Fellowship. My own take is slightly AU, as I have Elrond making his mind up a few weeks sooner than he did in canon. But your version is much more plausible. Author Reply: Oh, thank you, Dreamflower. I am indeed trying to stay both plausible and within canon here, and to include the arguments we are told Gandalf used in urging Elrond to include Merry and Pippin as well as those Elrond used as to why he felt it might be more important to send Merry and Pippin back to the Shire with warnings.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 7/27/2009
This is nicely done. All who accompany the Ringbearer volunteer on their own, and I like the reasoning everyone puts forth in this chapter. Author Reply: I am certain that Elrond would prefer to include volunteers in the Fellowship, actually, so it was important for me to think how such as went came to volunteer. Nor can I imagine that Gimli had not fought successfully against orcs before the Fellowship as I have seen in at least one story. So, how was it he should have come to fight? And would not Dol Guldur have sent at least some forces against Erebor as it was beginning to reestablish itself? And I wanted to include the arguments on both sides as to whether or not to include Merry and Pippin, as well as to give Elrond the information he needs to realize that even if he did manage to persuade the two younger Hobbits to return to the Shire with warnings to their people it was likely not to be much heeded. Thanks so, Shirebound!

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