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| Might Have Beens by Larner | 9 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/11/2011 |
| Oh, wow. Yes, what would have happened if Gandalf had survived? Would he have gone with Frodo to Mordor? The entire incident with Shelob would have been avoided in that instance surely, but what then? What of Denethor and Faramir and Minas Tirith? This is an AU I'd love to see continued at some point, though I know you say you can't now and I quite understand. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/8/2011 |
| How did I miss this? It is brilliant. One of the many things that I have always admired in the LOTR is the way that everything fits so perfectly. One thing out of place, one person doing something differently and the whole quest is put in doubt! Two balrogs?...ugh!!!! Author Reply: Well, Sauron himself was capable of being a balrog as well, so had he a fellow in Moria as a possible weapon, imagine what he might have done! Yes, a terrible thought, Harrowcat! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/21/2009 |
| This left me with a mix of emotions. On the one hand, it is a *nice* AU for a change, to have Gandalf rescued from the Balrog. On the other hand, it's true that this Balrog may join the fight later on (not that he necessarily has to, of course) and could cause a lot of trouble. That leaves a lot of leeway to think up different scenarios how things could turn out. Interesting! Author Reply: Yes, one cannot foresee precisely where this situation might lead. Will this Balrog remain underground, or might it decide to join forces with Sauron? But at least the rest are spared a good deal of pain in the immediate future. Thanks so, Kitty. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/17/2009 |
| I thought I would look at the other reviews first and see whether the identity of that second Balrog would be revealed since I didn't know and didn't want to sound stupid by asking. It never occured to me that Sauron may have been a Balrog but there he was. That is indeed food for thought and your explanations of how he could be were interesting. Quite intriguing. And also that Gandalf wasn't sure whether saving his life was really the best thing. You really should continue all of these little glimpses! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I think there's a comment somewhere, possibly there in the chapter about the Bridge of Khazad-dum, that Sauron was a Balrog, and the greatest of them all. Both Aragorn and Gandalf appear to have been aware that going through Moria would possibly be fatal for the Wizard, and certainly Gandalf appears to have accepted this probability as a calculated risk. And I suspect that of them all, he would have the greatest feeling, if not full understanding, that his own death would help to assure the removal of whatever great danger lay hidden within the halls of Durin from Middle Earth. Unlike the other Balrogs and Maiar-cum-monsters, Sauron recognized the dangers inherent in remaining in one form for too long, so appears to have shifted form fairly often, although most of them appear to have been evil ones. But the beauty and perfection of Annatar appears to have hidden his worst proclivities. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/16/2009 | |
| I'm just not sure I got the point of this. There's really nothing in the books that tells us that the Balrog would have definitely fought on Sauron's side - evil tends to be more self-serving, and we really don't know that it would've served the Balrog's purpose to do anything for Sauron. I see from one of your responses that you seem to think Sauron would've been another Balrog, and I don't think anything in the books really supports that, either - it wasn't Sauron's hand that was 'hot as a glede,' but the Ring after being severed from his hand, and we really don't fully know why. I want to like it - but the premise of having to fight two Balrog's at quest's end just didn't work for me. Maybe looking more at how Gandalf might not've had the power to defeat Saruman or heal Theodn had he remained 'the grey' rather than dying and being resurrected and becoming 'the white' would've worked better. Sorry. Author Reply: No, there is nothing to say in the books that the Balrog would have fought on Sauron's side. However, that at least one of Sauron's forms was that of a Balrog is attested. It was Isildur who stated that the Ring burned him as he took It, but that he felt It missed the heat of Its Master's hand. Remember, the Ring as It cooled from the heat of Sauron's hand lost Its lettering, and it took exposure to fire to bring the writing visible again; and Elrond stated that it was the heat of Sauron's hand that destroyed Gil-galad, NOT the heat of the Ring, with which it does not state he came into contact. And the fact that Sauron's most commonly referenced form during the War of the Rings was that of the red eye limned with fire is another indication of his affinity with fire and flames. It was my brother who approved of the image of the Eye as used in the films by pointing out that, having been robbed of a humanoid form by the loss of the Ring, Sauron had lost substance, and was now an identity without a form--a shadow of what he had been. So it was he drew fire about himself so as to be seen as it were as the Eye's pupil, as one cannot see a shadow without the contrast of light. As for the Balrog possibly coming to Sauron's side--consider Gandalf's estimation of Smaug as shown in Tolkien's intended dialogue within the White Tower as documented in the HoME: Gandalf believed that Sauron had drawn Smaug to the Lonely Mountain to try to destroy the heirs to Durin, but also to use at a future time as a weapon against other lands, once Sauron had gathered the last strength he felt he needed to make his push to reassume control over Middle Earth. That Sauron used the Balrog and the Watcher in the Water is very possible, even probable; that he had intentions for both beyond making Moria uninhabitable and impassible for the Free Peoples as a means of getting through the Misty Mountains is certainly likely. As for what you point out about a rescued Gandalf perhaps not having the strength of the White to heal Theoden when it was necessary--that is not a situation that Gandalf as the Grey appears to have had foreknowledge of, so although it is certainly a valid point for us to consider, I haven't had him state that concern as yet. As for facing Saruman--I doubt that Gandalf had thought beyond getting Frodo to Mordor. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof, after all. I'm sorry you didn't feel safe in signing your comment, for it has not offended me, but does address several points I didn't follow through upon in this ficlet. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/16/2009 |
| Worries doubled, indeed! And can Gandalf be sure that Sauron will keep the Balrog at his side until the end? He might send him out earlier, to Rohan or Gondor, anywhere! That would be terrible! Author Reply: There are a number of things Sauron might do with another Balrog at his side, after all. And you are so right as to who else might prove targets for the monster! | |
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/16/2009 |
| Interesting twist! Trying to remember who the other Balrog was though? Lynda Author Reply: The other Balrog? Sauron himself, whose hand was described as being as hot as a glede, and so it was that Gil-galad died. Sauron also at different times took the form of a werewolf, which was how Beren lost his hand, and as the greatest of the vampire bats. Sauron apparently liked to keep his options open, having several different nasty forms to take, and at least one beautiful humanoid one, the one he used when he appeared among Celebrimbor's folk as Annatar, Lord of Gifts, and as he wore when he was taken prisoner by the forces of Ar-Pharazon. Thanks for the feedback! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/16/2009 |
| Wonderful! A great nod to "A Bit of Rope"! Yet with a twist. It does leave one wishing to see more... Author Reply: I'll need to reread "A Bit of Rope" again. And don't ask me to write anything else with lots of chapters before I've finished those I've got going now! Heh! Thanks so, Dreamflower! | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/16/2009 |
| Wooah! Fantastic Larner. Loved the cooperation of the Fellowship. Could have seen this in the film. What a wonderful jumping off point, (pun intended,) for a complete AU. I think I remember one where Boromir survives and is healed by Aragorn but I would enjoy this more. Funny, I never used to look at AU stories! Author Reply: Ah, et tu, Brute? Then write, Larner! Well, perhaps one day I might do so. There have been several different "Boromir lives" stories, including "The Bee Charmer" (which is one of my favorites!), but I don't remember Gandalf surviving the initial attack by the Balrog. And I didn't used to write AU stories, either! Heh! Thanks so! | |