Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Time of Probing by Larner	8 Review(s)
Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/16/2013
It was very interesting to see how surgery is performed in Elrond's house. And what an amazingly easy yet convincing explanation why the Elves' techniques are so advanced: Thousands of years of experience! But poor Frodo! He is already unable to part with the Ring for a relatively short time. And yet he has not even been appointed to bring it to Mount Doom! It is already clear at that early point of time that Frodo himself cannot destroy the Ring. Author Reply: Most of our greatest innovations in medical practice have been made in the last two hundred years, and have been successful primarily because of far better communication throughout the world. I would think that medical practitioners who had been at it for better than six thousand years and who had the memory capacity of Elves would have learned a lot, and they would do their best to share their knowledge and techniques with whoever among mortals were willing to learn from them. Gandalf had noted that it was difficult to convince Bilbo to leave the Ring behind when he left the Shire, and that Frodo couldn't be brought to throw the Ring into his parlor fire even though he undoubtedly knew rationally that no harm could truly come to It in such a situation. Then, after Tom Bombadil handled It and It didn't disappear, Frodo put It on and tried to sneak out with It, jealous that someone else didn't react to It as he did. It's obvious that the Ring had quite a hold on both of them, as It had done with Gollum from the first glimpse he had of it. I would think that even unconscious he was feeling uncomfortable without It in his possession as he was accustomed to at that point. Thank you so, Andrea!

Soledad	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/22/2013
I don't know whom I feel more sorry for: Sam or Frodo? Author Reply: Oh, I know, Soledad! It must have been hard on all five Hobbits as they awaited Elrond being able to successfully remove the shard. Thank you so!

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/19/2013
So they already know about covering the nose and mouth prior to surgery, interesting though I suppose not surprising for Elves. But why cover Frodo's? The poor hobbit, already torn so by the Ring, perhaps more out of concern it not fall into the wrong hands than lusting for it himself. What a frightening image for Sam to have at the end! Author Reply: Elrond had been a healer at this point for over six thousand years, long enough and more to realize that wounds that are breathed upon or have hair drop upon them are more likely to become infected, or so I'd think. As a result, I'm certain all healers trained by him would be advised to work in as sterile an environment as possible. In surgery drapes over the patient are usually arranged to serve as a barrier for the patient's breath as well. So, why would not the Elves, who were more likely to impose healing sleep or use a form of hypnosis instead of a deliberate anesthesia, probably use at least a gauzy layer of fabric on the face of the one under the knife? I so suspect that you are right about Frodo's feelings, although we know that he already was jealous of anyone who touched the Ring--mark his reaction to seeing the Ring in and on Bombadil's hand! And the memory of seeing Frodo reappear after the Morgul wound was administered most likely haunted Sam for years afterward, if not for the rest of his life! Thank you so, Antane!

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/19/2013
Poor Frodo and Sam and everyone there. You have caught the tension of these days perfectly. Author Reply: It had to have been stressful on all of them, trying to deal with so many coming to Rivendell at the same time and the sudden arrival of the Ring in the midst of it all, not to mention Frodo's condition and the question of whether they'd be able to do anything successfully to keep him from falling to the shard's spell. Thanks again so, Linda!

UTfrog	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/18/2013
Excellent story behind the story we know. All of Rivendell must have been seriously upset by the calling of the ring. Author Reply: The Ring must have wondered to find Itself in the midst of such a number of Elves, or so I'd think. Therefore several of the denizens of Rivendell must have felt Its influence at least somewhat. Thank you so!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/18/2013
Oh dear! Poor everybody! This is such a stressful time for all of them. I found it very interesting that Meliangiloreth could not hear the Ring once Frodo had hold of it. Author Reply: They have the Ring in their midst, and more Hobbits, all of whom are focused on Frodo's welfare, and the worry that the shard might do its own evil work in spite of them. I've always suspected that somehow unconsciously Frodo and Bilbo realized that they could quiet the Ring and keep Its attention off of other people in the few moments when It roused, and how that must have surprised the Elves of Rivendell! Thanks so, Dreamflower!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/18/2013
What a terrible, awful time for Sam, and all of them. It's nice to know that Frodo won't remember anything from these days, and to see how much he trusts Strider already. Author Reply: Along the way Frodo had plenty of chances to realize just how focused on his welfare the Ranger was, and so I'd expect he'd develop a strong trust for him. And I agree--it's undoubtedly best that Frodo not remember what happened during those days he carried the shard in his shoulder!

Aiwendiel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/18/2013
Ohh how wonderful to find the next chapter here! What a pleasant surprise. Another richly developed set of scenes in which you so knowledgeably display the advanced medical knowledge of the Elves and Elrond in particular, and the continuing struggle of Frodo with the Ring. And poor Sam, to be forced to stand by and watch it all, and shuttle the Ring back and forth when the others can't bear its presence any more. Nicely done -- looking forward to the continuing drama. Author Reply: I tend to post here first, and elsewhere once I'm satisfied with it as it appears here. I got it posted and then realized that a couple of small changes I'd made hadn't gotten saved, so had to do a quick edit before I got it posted elsewhere. Elrond had known several millenia to perfect his medical knowledge, and unlike Men, he has not had to relearn old lessons forgotten when the previous true experts have failed to pass on what has been learned about sterile procedures and how the various organs and blood vessels interrelate. Thank you so--I got interrupted the other evening before I got through Gandalf's experiences with the slavers, so need to get back to that!

Return to Chapter List