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| A Long and Weary Way by Canafinwe | 11 Review(s) |
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| Lily Baggins | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 9/13/2015 |
| Wow. I was unable to tear my eyes away as Gandalf ranted and raved to Aragorn... and yet Aragorn took it kindly and seemed to understand. I can certainly understand Gandalf's anger and guilt just beneath the surface, and it shows beautifully here. This entire interrogation is so wonderfully detailed, down to each small thought and feeling. I'm eager to see where it leads---but a bit nervous about that, too, because I know the news will not be good. Author Reply: Yes, Aragorn always does seem to understand what people are really needing to express, however they say it. I'm so happy to know that particular outburst was effective: thank you. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/17/2015 |
| Oops, make that about 126 years from the time Smeagol is driven out to the time Gandalf finds no remnant of habitations. Not sure where the 163 came from. Math is not my strong point. For a long time I wrote Estella Bolger as the same age as Diamond of the North Tooks, because I made a math error... So 126 is probably the right figure. Though another math error is always possible. Author Reply: 126 is what I got. From prosperous to vanished in a century... as you say, though, the hole-dwelling would have left few traces. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/17/2015 |
| Fascinating. 'You said such folk dwelt in the Wilderland until they dwindled around the time the mountain passes became treacherous.' This started an itch I couldn't resist scratching. From ransacking the ToY: c. TA 1000 Istari appear in ME 1050 Harfoots come to Eriador 1100 The Wise find evil stronghold in Dol Guldur 1150 Fallohides enter Eriador. (I wrote a speculative story about this, actually.) Stoors come over Redhorn Pass to Angle 1300 Periannath migrate westward; many settle in Bree 1356 Stoors leave Angle, some return to Wilderland (I wonder if these were Smeagol's ancestors?) 1601 Many Periannath migrate from Bree; joined by Stoors coming up from Dunland c. 1630 2463 About this time Deagol the Stoor finds the One Ring, and is murdered by Smeagol 2480 Orcs make secret strongholds in Misty Mountains to bar passes 2589 Thror becomes King under the Mountain I worked out the math to show that 554 years elapsed between Smeagol taking the Ring and Aragorn capturing him. And about 163 years between the time Smeagol was driven out of his Grandmother's home, and Thror became king, in which time Gandalf was unable to find any trace of the community. If they were hole-dwellers, it is possible that there might be no foundations, walls, or outlines of fields left. Did they die out naturally? Were they slaughtered? Were they driven out, or caused to flee their homes? How fascinating to contemplate a later archaeological dig that turned up some of "Grandmother's" treasure trove. You show their weariness so subtly, not so much saying they are weary, as revealing the state they are in with little details. I love the little bit of rebellion Aragorn shows in his tasting the apple and acerbic challenge a little later, and the glimpse of his essential goodness in begrudging himself a much-needed meal when he knows his captive is going hungry (regardless of the fact that it is Gollum's own fault). I love the hints of Gandalf's otherness: eyes sharper than they had any right to be after such a day, not knowing how he showed his aches, his fact-filled diatribe and the flare of his eyes... 'Perhaps some fine hobbit-foods,' he suggested, pushing it a little further; 'or the best travel-fare that the kitchens of Elrond can furnish.' Ah, Aragorn, prophetic words, though you don't know the half of it. I do not know what a retting board is, and my friend google is of no help, it seems. Perhaps I do not want to know. And I am out of time for today. Author Reply: I love those itches! My calculations were much the same (as noted in your second review). It's interesting to speculate, isn't it? For all intents and purposes, they just vanished: they weren't there when Sauron excavated Isildur's remains, either. I do wonder whether there was any further exploration and/or consecration of the Gladden Fields after the War. It's so lovely that you pick up on all the small touches: thank you! It's been such a trying day: Aragorn's bound to be a little cross. And of course he knows what it is to go hungry while his captors eat... his wouldn't have been particular about doing it in front of him, either. Gandalf is wonderful to write. A retting board is a tool for preparing flax and other bast fibres for spinning. It looks like a six inch square bed of nails, except the spikes are of many different lengths. Because of this, you don't have the even distribution of weight you have with a carnival prop bed of nails: great for breaking down tough plant fibres, but really, really bad if you step on it... | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/17/2015 |
| The other piece is long enough, but I noticed one more detail. If I had been there, I think the Elven keepers would have had something of mine to clean up as well! You go smoothly from displays of drama to little, ordinary bits of the picture. Almost funny, except it was a piece of an amazing drama! Of course, our heroes would not resort to the kind of blows poor Sméagol-Gollum had received from Mordor. They would have ceased to be who they are. Again, well done. Author Reply: Good eye! I love to do that, and it's one of the great strengths of The Lord of the Rings, too: the epic and the ordinary together. Ooh, I couldn't have them get anywhere near THAT line! Just as you say: they could not do that and remain who they are! | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/17/2015 |
| "I did not bid you drive yourself to the very brink of starvation..." Powerful stuff, here. The journey which has slogged on for so long now rapidly picks up momentum. I believe you have captured the essence of heroes. They take upon themselves the difficult tasks which would not ask someone else to do, and which no one would ask of them, but which they believe must be done. You have also captured a fundamental part of the best storytelling. That is, the weaving of threads from other tapestries, other, older tales, into a new creation which completes and adds to the older one. The conversation between the two at first reminded me of the Council of Elrond. As the discussion went on, it became apparent to Frodo that he ought to be the one to do it, and took the task of ring-bearing upon himself. Then, when the fire came, I thought of nine travelers and one very cold but stalwart pony huddling on Caradaras in a blizzard. When Gandalf commanded a fire for them, he remarked that a sudden burst of flame would announce "Gandalf is here" to any unfriendly watchers. Even after that display, I am sure Gollum still had no idea who he was really dealing with. But he had to respect that much power! I am also sure that Gollum was too terrified to realize that the fire was carefully controlled, designed to terrify but not permanently harm! Well done! Author Reply: Thank you for the beautiful feedback! You summarize what it is to be a hero (and especially one of Tolkien's heroes) so succinctly. It means a lot to know this story has you thinking of those other, greater events: thank you! And no: Gollum definitely didn't interpret any of that as being "controlled"! | |
| Elentarri | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/17/2015 |
| Oh wow. That was a great chapter. I love the private moments between Aragorn and Gandalf. Can't wait for the next chapter. Author Reply: Thank you so much! It's wonderful to write those private moments, because of course they are freer with one another than with others. Cheers! | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/16/2015 |
| You are an amazingly powerful writer. I can smell the stink of that cell. I can imagine the confrontation between Aragorn and Gandalf on "why he continued". You truly have a gift. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Author Reply: Thank you so much! It's lovely to know it's so evocative for you. I'm very glad you liked the first confrontation, too. It's very much outshot by the last part of the chapter, but it's important. It's my privilege to share my writing with you: thank you for reading! | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/16/2015 |
| Wow! Gandalf unmasked. That must have been a terrible sight for Gollum. I can't imagine having to interrogate that creature for days on end. No wonder that Gandalf is at the end of his patience. Author Reply: No doubt it was! Gollum could have had no idea who he was dealing with there. I'm relieved this interrogation is almost at an end... ;-) | |
| Marianel | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/16/2015 |
| I can see them infront of me and even imagine Gollums smell and it isnt candy and roses! You scared me with Gandalf but it was fantastic and a mighty picture you draw of him. Im thinking about what Gollum would say to me if I talked to him. Probably hateful manses would be what I should learn.I can feel myself losing patience indeed hahaha!I look forward to your story and even if I forget to review now and then be sure I always read it. Take care! / Marianel /Sweden Author Reply: Thanks! I'm glad that it's coming across so clearly. And don't worry: even Aragorn was just a *little bit* scared of Gandalf in that moment. ;-) Sigh. Yes, probably 'hateful manses' and all manner of other things. I know I wouldn't be able to be nearly as patient as our heroes. Even writing him is exhausting! Thank you for the delightful feedback, as always. You're so very kind. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/15/2015 |
| The way you're fleshing out this encounter between Gandalf and Gollum is simply amazing. 'Once begun such roads cannot end save in success or death, for the cost of abandoning them is too high to bear.' 'I do not lay these tests for myself,' said Aragorn. 'I merely meet them with what fortitude I have and bear through them as best I may, as I hope I will find the courage to do when the greatest test is upon me.' Through this courage and nobility he earned his kingship, and no mistake. Author Reply: Thank you! Tolkien was brilliant to pit these two against each other, and recreating that dynamic is a fascinating and sometimes troubling process. And 'earned his kingship' may just be the most elegantly truthful phrase I've ever heard turned upon Aragorn. Earned it indeed he did! | |