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Moments in Time  by Larner 12 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/21/2007
A beautiful depiction of this first meeting between Faramir and Frodo after the quest was done. And I love the way the flower-crown and the star in Mordor are recalled here, both beautiful things in the story itself and equally so when told here to Faramir.

Queen Melian’s lace! I love that! Perfect way to use the flower and give it a Middle-earth name.
God bless,
Galadriel


Author Reply: I'd always wondered WHICH king was pictured there, and now we know! Heh! And I, too, always loved the image of the statues head so crowned. It was pointed out once on The One Ring Net that it was Frodo who received the hope from the floral crown one would expect Sam to respond to while it was Sam who found hope in the star seen from Mordor, a sign usually associated with Frodo. Here it is becoming increasingly obvious that Sam is becoming the one whose strength is seeing both through the ordeal.

And it's been fun trying to think of ME names for varius flowers that here have culturally-derived names. Indian paintbrush I finally decided would be fairy's paintbrush, and I think I once named some plant dwarf's beard.

cookiefleckReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/16/2007
Lovely story, dear!

Author Reply: I'm so glad you appreciated it, although Sam chose to stay home and sleep this time. Thanks so much, Cookiefleck.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/15/2007
A lovely portrait of two survivors of the Ring War, coming together under the sun as they once barely dared to hope they would do. Faramir is beginning to adjust to the idea of a prosperous future stretching out before him; while Frodo, it seems, begins to know that the prosperous future he has attained for others will not be granted to him.

Good characterisation of both; and a nod to Faramir's knowledge of Gondorian history as well.

Can I wish for more stories in which Faramir plays a prominent role?

Author Reply: And a happy birthday to you, my lady! Yes, I'll undoubtedly do at least a few stories here and there, one of which was turned loose by Dreamflower. And am so glad you like the characterisations. As Faramir was supposed to have been the one who, like his father, was a master of the Lore of Gondor, it only made sense he'd have an idea as to which King it was that was pictured at the Crossroads, and it was fun to go through the list of the Line of Kings trying to decide which it was!

Thank you, Raksha.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/13/2007
A lovely thought provoking story.

Author Reply: Thank you, Linda.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/12/2007
Like Dreamflower I recognised the different types of walls in this story.
Since she's already described them perfectly I won't repeat it all, but simply agree with her! Great review, really!

“But if he is never tried, Frodo, how can he ever learn of what he is capable?”

Faramir is absolutely right here! Frodo should know this best. But he tends to underestimate what he achieved during the quest. And no one in Middle-Earth will be able to convince him that this is not the case.

I certainly understand that Frodo would wish for his Shire to be protected from the outside world. However, he will have to find out very soon that this is simply impossible. When he comes back he will see that in fact the outside world "found" the Shire, and not noble man like Faramir, but brutal ruffians and their leader, Saruman! How devastated he must have felt when he found this out!

After having set things right with the help of his companions, Frodo seems to have changed his mind. He even encourages hobbits of the Shire to trade with men, or sends a lawyer to take lessons from a man of Gondor! That's the right way! I think in the short time Frodo lived in the Shire after the quest, he achieved a lot. And he made his kin aware of the outside world! At least these "walls" were breached.

Thank you very much, Larner, for this new addition!



Author Reply: I am honored, Andrea. Yes, in the end he realized the "walls" had indeed been breached, and set about making certain the holes were made into gates for proper entrance and exit. And now they do have trade going, and lessons going back and forth. So glad you realized even he accepted this was necessary in the end.

Thanks so much, Andrea.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/12/2007
Frodo is sadly right that his efforts and terrible sacrifices would not be understood or appreciated by those in his beloved Shire, but still they were by many who knew the truth and it is right for him to think it was all worth it if those he loves are kept innocent because of what he did. But the poor dear, to think he was worthless now, not wanting to 'inflict' himself on someone. I would hug him if I thought he would accept it.

Namarie, God bless you and him, Antane :)


Author Reply: Yes, it was worthwhile in the end, Antane--an acceptable sacrifice after all. And I think he'd accept the hug, myself.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/11/2007
What a lovely conversation, taking on so many different variations on the theme of "walls", from the literal wall of the parapet where they stood, to talking of the walls of the buildings in both Minas Tirith and the Shire. I loved the way Faramir was so curious about the Shire, and Frodo's vivid descriptions--it makes me wish that Faramir could have seen it at least once before the Edict went into effect.

Then we see the metaphorical walls--both the ones around the Shire, keeping not only evil, but knowledge as well, out; and the ones Frodo is building around himself, a guard against the pain and self-knowledge his Quest had given him.

It was also very bittersweet to hear Frodo talking of the Shire he'd left--all unknowing of the Troubles there--the walls there have already been breached, though no one knows that yet. It's so ironic that at this point he thought he'd never live in Bag End again--the reader knows better, and yet his repossession is so brief and unhappy.

And I really loved the ending, with Faramir's hand on Frodo's. These two, I think, had a great understanding of one another.

Beautifully done, Larner!

Author Reply: Am so glad you are seeing just what I'd hoped to communicate, Dreamflower. Yes, bittersweet indeed, the caring Frodo knows for his own folk yet how they do need, as a younger Frodo realized, to come into full awareness of the world OUT THERE (or out here as he's outside the borders of the Shire himself at this point) while he's still fighting his own walls.

Thank you so for your comments, Dreamflower.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/11/2007
The King's Hallow AND Frodo talking with Faramir within a week! - Ah, sometime's life is just perfect. And I am posting you plenty of nice fresh carrots and greens to help out with the housekeeping for the plot bunnies, especially the new one! *g*

Solved the birthday gift challenge - two new vases together with a commitment to fill them once a month! Home to deliver tomorrow.

Author Reply: Oh, how much I DON'T need more plotbunnies, Harrowcat! Heh!

So, new flowers for Mum on a monthly basis, eh? I wish her many happy returns of the day! Give your folks and Jet my love.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/11/2007
This conversation left me thinking what a pity Aragorn’s ban of Men was sometimes – I am sure Faramir would have loved to visit the Shire ; he’d have appreciated this fertile land.

It is so understandable why Frodo wants to protect the Shire from the evil outside, and it is meant well. And yet – I’m not convinced it is always the right thing to allow the hobbits to deny that there is an outer world at all. They’d be at least forewarned if there were any danger when they knew more and kept contacts with others. The Shire schools are a very sensible idea, and I am glad Frodo in the end realised it – it’s a protection of his folk in its own way to know a bit about the world outside of the Shire.

Anyway, I was glad these two got some time to talk to each other. Faramir’s hand on Frodo’s was a very nice touch. And I *so* agree with Faramir’s last wish. Lovely story, Larner!

Author Reply: Ithilien is also rising out of the ruins of a lost province, as the Shire rose on the remains of Cardolan. And I agree that perhaps Aragorn didn't truly do the Shire any favors by making it totally off limits for Men.

Am so glad you agree with the Shire schools, even if they didn't have a place in this particular story. Yes, a protection his folk will need in the future.

And the last wish does end up granted, just not within Middle Earth itself.

Thank you so, Kitty.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/11/2007
and did you know you just released still another plot bunny in the house, this place that is now infested with them? This one has climbed to the highest shelf on the utility porch, where it is defying the tortoiseshell! And Bookie is looking over her shoulder in alarm to find this one sitting in HER place! Heh!

We aim to please!

Heh. Go, bunny, go!

Author Reply: Heh! We'll see what it accomplishes before we see it exorcised.

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