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The Time of Probing by Larner	10 Review(s)
PSW	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 9/4/2016
I just really loved all the singing throughout as part of the healing process. It's something I tend to forget about Elves -- but when reminded, it's very much an 'oh, of course!' thing.... I also love Sam, so I'm always happy to read things that focus in some part on him. I also quite enjoyed your author's note at the end -- very interesting and informative! Thanks for writing! Author Reply: Music is part of Elven power, or so I've always felt. After all, it was through what the Elves told that Men learned that Ea was created through the Song of the Ainur. Frodo and Sam and Pippin were first aware of the presence of Elves within the Shire as a result of hearing their hymn to Elbereth, and Bilbo and the Dwarves were welcomed to Rivendell by the singing of the Elves. I am certain that all would invoke song in harmony when such a serious situation as this had to be dealt with. Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, and Aragorn are of course my favorites, and Sam's POV has always drawn me. And I'm so glad you appreciate the author's notes. I find myself wanting to explain things so! Heh! Thank you so much.

Bitsay	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 10/4/2015
Hello Larner, another fabulous story! But I am very curious as to where you have discovered that Elrond had to probe Frodo's wound twice before finally being able to remove the shard of the morgul blade. I have searched in the LOTR text and can only conclude, since your research is always second to none that you must have discovered another source! Thanks! Author Reply: I got the idea that the wound was probed at least twice in Gandalf's revelation that the shard "could not be found until last night." If it couldn't be found previous to that time and both Strider and Gandalf indicated they were certain such a thing was there within the wound, then they had to have been trying to figure out where it had managed to move to, indicating Elrond probably had done at least one previous probing for the cursed thing. Hope this answers your question as Tolkien doesn't make a clear statement there was more than one operation attempted, of course. Thanks for letting me know that you enjoyed this story! It makes it worth the writing!

Diana	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 5/3/2014
Hi Larner I really loved this. I love how you managed to keep the language and style of Tolkien's writing without sounding forced or corny. A very good job indeed! You've done so well in filling in these gaps of Imladris that it puts me right there and it's all very believable. I also liked how Elrond spoke about Bilbo's poetry. I remember when I read what Lindir said in the book it just sounded too snotty for me and lent itself too much to the idea of overly arrogant aristocratic Elves and I pretty much wanted to kick him real hard. I like a kinder picture of them and that the insecurity was more on Bilbo's part. If Lindir was more the norm then I don't see the point in having anything to do with Elves and be glad to see the back of them (maybe even giving a little push! ;) I love when people give Arwen a voice in their stories. In Tolkien's story she seems little more than a prize for Aragorn and I never got the feeling she even loved him. Here, she's a real person with something to offer the world other than a Royal bloodline. I often wonder at what happened to Celebrian and her escort in the mountains. Many of the writers tackle that subject. I like your version a lot. Well, that's enough outta me. Thanks for a great read! Diana Author Reply: Hello, Diana. I am so very sorry I apparently never responded to your comments to my story "The Time of Probing." This story is one I found I'd wanted to write for some time, and it appeared the time had come to actually write it at last. I agree that at least on the surface Lindir's comments about Bilbo's poem appeared quite arrogant, but considering the delight of its meter and rhyming scheme I believe that even most Elves would be pleased with it, and suspected that Lindir was actually teasing Bilbo more than anything. I like being able to give Arwen more of a definite personality that would attract someone like Aragorn even after he'd left the callowness of youth. I went into even more detail on the abduction and torture of Celebrian in my longer unfinished epic, "Stirring Rings." Now, if I could only get the next chapter of THAT written and posted! Thank you for your detailed comments--they mean a good deal, and again I apologize for not responding earlier. How it slipped my attention I cannot say.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 2/11/2014
What a heart-warming story in spite of the grimness and fear! It must have been agony for Frodo's friends to see him longing for such an evil thing and finally crying out for it. I couldn't have stood that. Not to mention a lot of fuss, running back and forth to bring the ring, take it away, bring it again...and always have someone guarding it and needing one of the hobbits to carry it because Aragorn and the elves dared not. Ah, the way hobbits care for each other. I love it. It's so cozy even to read about. The descriptions of the songs of power, particularly of the blessing of the chain, are beautiful. I found it touching that Bilbo's song of letters and words outlasted all the rest. And as usual, your author's notes are wonderfully detailed. I would love to see an AU story about Frodo and Narcissa finding happiness with one another. Thank you for another lovely story!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 8/31/2013
My vision of Frodo Baggins is still that of a normal mortal, one who is not and cannot be as perfect as he wishes to be perceived. Yes, that is my vision, too. A normal mortal and yet a very special one who was chosen because of his special qualities. He does his best to accomplish his task, he would give his life for that. But still he is often frustrated and sometimes even angry with whoever it was that appointed him for that task. It takes his whole life, in Middle-Earth and beyond, to fully understand and accept his role in the quest! Thank you for this story! I enjoyed reading it a great deal! Author Reply: And thank you so very much for all of the feedback all through the tale. I have found such pleasure in exploring the nature of Tolkien's characters, and rejoice that he left such latitude for our explorations.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 8/26/2013
One of the great reasons to love Frodo is that he is a ordinary (but at the same time extraordinary) hobbit - he is not perfect, none of us are, but he is more relatable and more lovable because of that. And he still knew great love, the greatest that could be known, even if he never knew romantic love. Three cheers for Sam too! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I so agree, Antane. Thank you so for all of the feedback--you know how heartening it can be!

walker-skye	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 8/24/2013
Having experience with PTSD patients as a therapist, your descriptions of Frodo's suffering fits very well. The pieces of the story, both medically and in character depiction, are believable and harmonize with how the Professor portrays them. I appreciate writers who can fill gaps w/o trying to put their own twist on beloved characters, you've done a sterling job here, putting together an enjoyable story. I've looked forward to each posting, as with other stories, so I'll look for future posts now. Thank you! Author Reply: And thank you, Walker-skye. I've seen PTSD in a number of friends and associates, and it's not an easy condition to be forced to deal with. I know that my own childhood experiences with doctors and nurses doing things to me "for my own good" that time proved to be unnecessary and even counterproductive left me with white-coat syndrome and almost unbearable needlephobia. How much worse for those who have lived through nightmares for days and days on end! And I am so glad that you feel I have managed to remain true to the Master's own characterizations. I am so honored! Thank you again.

Teresa	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 8/24/2013
Many thanks for such an excellent addition to Middle Earth! Your work, and the work of so many others have given me much pleasure! This story in particular has added greatly to my view of Frodo's situation after Weathertop, and how he and the other characters dealt with his wounding there and later in the quest. It is a pity that Frodo didn't take the advice he gave to Brendi about sharing the time he had with his love no matter how short. He and Narcissa would have been good together. I wish Sam's thought had taken place, that the four of them would have shared a home and raised their families there. Of course, I would have wanted them to still have everyone else in the fellowship stopping by! After all, they were family too! :) Author Reply: How terrified the others must have been for Frodo's future once they fully appreciated just what lay in store for Frodo should the shard complete its work. I do agree--Frodo should have given Narcissa the attention they both deserved. But sometimes we are wise for others and foolish for ourselves. And I can imagine Strider slipping in through the Hay Gate with Tom Bombadil and Merry's collusion to visit Frodo and Sam and their families in the Crickhollow house, bringing his bride with them, all of them enjoying tea, wine, or a light ale together in friendship and love always.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 8/23/2013
This was a really fun and interesting tale! I do so love stories set in this time period, and this was a good one! I'm very glad that you did not resist the nuzgul, and accommodated the bunny! I also enjoy your Author's Notes--it's always fascinating to get a glimpse into someone else's creative process. Author Reply: I know you love this time period, and that's partly why this was dedicated to you! And I am so glad that you do appreciate the notes--sometimes I just have to explore just how my stories all work together. I knew I didn't want to just rework the ideas Shirebound had in her story, so it was interesting to find other reasons for why things worked out as they did. Thanks so very much, Dreamflower.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 8/22/2013
I enjoyed this story very much, as well as your Author Notes. How I love the 'probing' we're able to do with the Professor's gaps and hints, and what a joy to be able to flesh them out as we imagine they could be. (And I do believe that's my story "By Chance or Purpose" in which Elrond waited to remove the shard until Frodo had just begun to fade, and the shard became visible 'for eyes to see that can'.) Thank you for another wonderful, thoughtful tale. Author Reply: I have edited the notes to acknowledge that the mentioned tale indeed is yours! Knew it was by one of you, but couldn't remember which. A good deal of the satisfaction of being a fanfic writer is indeed finding gaps to fill and thinking of ways to fill them in keeping with the Master's own writing. Thanks so much for following this one as it's been posted!

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