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Moments in Time  by Larner 12 Review(s)
Socrates399Reviewed Chapter: 29 on 3/1/2009
Beautiful (though sad)! I just like the title, too...that's my FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME!

Author Reply: Oh, I love both the book by Oliver Sacks and the Robin Williams movie made from it. I'd not thought of either, however, when titling this one--it just seemed the proper title for this story, which, after all, focused on awakenings.

Thank you so!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/27/2007
A nice look at all the many awakenings Frodo has experienced. I see them as symbolic rebiths in a way.Sorry I'm so late reviewing these, they skipped my attention somehow

Author Reply: Yes--symbolic rebirths indeed. And having taken so long to review "A Time to Reap," I fully understand. I oftentimes hate my ISP.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/13/2007
Loved it, loved it, loved it Larner. And as somebody commented very appropriate for Easter. Made me want to go and re-read that last true awakening of stepping forward into the Presence with everyone around him!

Author Reply: Yes, this was my Easter-Passover story this year. So glad you feel it appropriate for the season. The joy of that last awakening must have been so much the greater, for he came to it having relearned how to know joy once more.

Hope your holiday was pleasant. It's my birthday today, and so I've been visiting, also. Be home briefly then off to work with my clients. Wish me luck.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/11/2007
That was beautiful, Larner!

And before I start to quote the whole story, let me just pick up three quotes!

But that was followed by a far grimmer awakening as he, a mere Hobbit, realized he must go further than anyone ought to have gone, and that it was very likely he would soon die to free not just the Shire but the whole of Middle Earth from even worse evil than he’d foreseen so far.

That was an eye-opener for me! When you have read the story several times, you simply forget that Frodo's first intention was to save the Shire and that he had never expected to be involved in a much greater quest, to save the whole of Middle Earth! Only in Rivendell, at the Council of Elrond he realised that. But he went on!

... and he and It claimed one another, there in that place of fire and darkness.

Wow! The choice of words is perfect!

And last, but not least:

So now he stood on the deck of the grey ship, between Gandalf and the Lady, Elrond behind him, the Wizard’s hand on his shoulder, watching the rain curtain like silver glass roll back, and he took a deep breath, feeling himself awaken fully for the first time in years.

Beautifully written! After having read your AU story, I think this way it was much easier for Frodo to leave Middle Earth. But he IS a stubborn Baggins, and he could have very well decided otherwise ;-)

Author Reply: I don't know why the AUs are taking me, but they are. But am so glad that this makes it easier to accept that in the end Frodo did leave Middle Earth.

Yes, he was a stubborn Baggins indeed!

Am so glad you liked this one.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/11/2007
Most of these awakenings were terrible – to find his parents dead, to have to take It to Mordor, the tower of Cirith Ungol – and then to find next time was even worse ... I think it was important for Frodo to have finally an occasion in which he could feel he was waking up to something good, to a relieving of pain and guilt. He truly deserves it.
Wonderful ficlet, Larner!

Author Reply: Thank you, Kitty, although I think today's offering will be very upsetting by comparison.

I certainly agree Frodo needs an awakening in which he finds healing and joy in place of diminishment, grief, pain, and guilt.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/11/2007
Charming device. Poor Frodo - he's had a hard time, but he can look forward now.

Author Reply: Yes, difficulties and terrors and near-death (and worse) more than once; now he has the chance to awaken to easing instead of frustration and pain and fear of memories.

So glad you've responded to it.

PeriantariReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/9/2007
Beautiful. These are so very poignant and what a theme that you wrote in them!
But that was followed by a far grimmer awakening as he, a mere Hobbit, realized he must go further than anyone ought to have gone, and that it was very likely he would soon die to free not just the Shire but the whole of Middle Earth from even worse evil than he’d foreseen so far.
The reason why Frodo is one of my favorite hobbits-- he did the one task that no one wanted to do and that sacrifice was just so great and honorable. Knowing that he may not survive, Frodo still kept on and gosh, i think he did one of the greatest things ever in MIddle-earth and Elrond was right that he'll be made into a song like Beren and Tuor were in the Eldar Days.

The waking in the orc tower, to the despair of thinking all was lost with the Ring, to pain and torture and the agony of loss--loss of It, loss of hope, loss of Sam. Further brief coming to awareness in the waking nightmare of crossing Mordor under the weight of It and Its burning against his breast before falling back into the darkness as his strength drained away.
So beautifully written, so full of angst and truth that it so stings at my heart.

ANd your last line... gosh, i was blown away by it, "awaken for the first time"-- i love it. THis is an amazing fic, Larner!

Thanks for writing it!

Author Reply: Thank you so much, Periantri. Was meditating on Frodo's comment in "The Return of the King" that rather than waking from a great dream as the others expressed he felt as if he were falling into sleep again.

There were Holocaust survivors who commented that their times in the camps were the one time in their lives they'd felt fully alive, and that their lives often felt flat and grey afterwards; I saw the parallel between that and Frodo's own comment. Perhaps it was due at the time to adrenalin overload; but in the end Frodo apparently felt he needed a new awakening.

And I look forward to seeing your response to "Requesting Mercy."

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/9/2007
Love the ending and the way you phrased he and the Ring claiming each other. I still wonder how much free will he had left then, a little, but certainly not as much as he thought he had and blamed himself and suffered so much for later. Love also that Sam's wish to hear their story told helped ease what they both thought would be their final moments. I love the way that's protrayed in the movie - Frodo with his eyes closed, resting his head against Sam's and both arms around him, trusting, peacefully accepting and waiting for the end, and Sam still watching over him even then. The joy and wonder of being lifted away by the eagle. He awoke many times I'm sure he wished he hadn't - after his parents' deaths, after Gandalf's, after the Fire, but then he wakes in the West and one day would wake in the Presence.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: The image of Frodo and Sam embracing one another there as the volcano is erupting above and behind them is truly one of the most powerful ones contained in all three films, or so I'd always felt. And that serendipitous comment by Sam as they waited for death to finally take them always seemed such a profound defiance of all they'd been through--how it must have touched Frodo and helped draw him, for the moment at least, away from the grief and pain. Yes, I think it might have indeed eased him in what he thought would be his last moments of awareness of life.

Life must be lived while it remains with us; and for all of us there are awakenings we wish we didn't have to endure, as well as others that are filled with delight and joy.

And the awakening to the fact he now belonged in Elvenhome must have been an intense joy for Frodo once he accepted it.

Am looking forward to your responses to "Go Out in Joy."

RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/9/2007
A very moving way to look at Frodo's life. I love that image of Valinor and the healing that lies ahead for Frodo.

Author Reply: Am so very glad you love that image, Radbooks. Thank you--this just seemed proper for Easter.

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/9/2007
Oh wow! Very powerful, particularly the ending. I never thought of most of those events in quite that way before. Very appropriate for Easter.

And a (belated) blessed one to you too!
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Glad you agree with me on how this was an appropriate response to Easter. Thank you so very much. And may your Eastertide be renewing for you.

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