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Eucatastrophe: The Return  by Dreamflower 9 Review(s)
MîdhaerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/23/2011
I just thought of another way the Witch King could die. The prophecy states 'by the hand of a man' not 'hands of a man'. A man could snap his neck with two hands. And who would challenge Wiki to hand-to-hand combat, anyway? He's far more likely to die by the sword of a man. If you take the prophecy extremely literally, then the only way he definitely couldn't be killed is by a single adult male human who attempts to kill him with just one hand. But then again I'm probably taking this way to literally.

Author Reply: LOLOLOL! It just goes to show that the W-k was very foolish in using that prophecy as a measure of his "invulnerability"! But of course, I think that was the point of the whole situation: his belief that no one could slay him when that was not at all what the prophecy said!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/11/2007
Catching up at last! Yea! :)

Lovely description of the sparring match!

LOL! Leave it to Pip to always see the lighter side of a grave matter! *hugs him*
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: I love to show the two of them sparring! I think they would enjoy it as "sport"!

And yes, Pippin is always one to see the quirky side of a matter!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/11/2007
I *love* Pippin's reasoning! It resembles mine when I'm not exhausted from work or lack of sleep.

It's always a treat to watch all three cousins together, and even just Merry and Pippin alone. The deail is perfect! LOL, I'm going to tell you yet again, but I just love this Eucatastrophe series.

Sorry for the late response; to make a long story short, for some reason I thought that I had already read this tale. I'm glad you put a link your challenge tale or I'd have missed this excellent chapter!

Author Reply: I'm so glad you're still enjoying this. I'm having a great time playing in this universe!

Well, that's part of the problem of running it on the Challenge site. Since the last challenge I did not "update", but wrote "The Dwarf Dagger" instead, I had to catch up with myself here, before the *next* chapter! I felt like a puppy chasing its tail!! LOL!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/10/2007
It is good that Frodo can see for himself that he has healed and his cousins can see the same thing. Too bad it couldn't truly have this way but it all happened as it was meant to be. And the Witch-king was too full of himself - he was certainly open to many ways of destruction but considered none of them I'm sure.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Well, of course, that's the idea of the AU. *IF* the Three had been freed by the One's destruction, instead of fading, and *IF* Saruman had not survived to come to the Shire and make things there worse, and *IF* the Valar had opened Valinor to two-way travel, *THEN* maybe Frodo could have been healed enough to remain in the Shire. That's a lot of "ifs", LOL! And truly, JRRT's ending was much more true and ultimately satisfying. Still, it's nice that we fanfic writers can simply worry about making the characters as happy as we can sometimes, without regard to the larger picture.

Have you ever read "No Living Man" by Elenar? It's posted here, and is literally the first fanfic I ever read. It's quite hilarious!

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/10/2007
I've always wondered why the WK didn't consider Wizards to be a danger. He really was so arrogant he thought he was invincible - and that was his downfall really. Loved the exploration.

Phone line was out for over a week so I'm busy playing catch-up!

Author Reply: Yes, I could also have had Pippin mention Wizards, but I don't think that he took Gandalf so lightly.

Arrogance is the hallmark of a certain sort of evil--the notion that the evil one is at the pinnacle of existence, and everyone and everything is beneath them. I don't suppose the W-k really feared anyone except Sauron himself.

elanor winterflowersReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/7/2007
I very much liked the comments surrounding the sparring match here; the sense of enjoyment Merry and Pippin had in completing the "dance", evenly matched. Really well done. And this line: "Your heart is naturally that of a guardian.” That was excellent!

Author Reply: I've often thought that once the need to use their weapons to save themselves was past, that they would come to appreciate the "sport" aspect of it. I know so many SCA fighters who will take any opportunity to "fight"--and afterwards rehash each and every move.

I've often thought that Merry was simply born to be a protector, and that this quality would be recognized in him by others who fulfilled that role in the larger world.

Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/7/2007
Another wonderful chapter. I loved Merry wanting to ask Glorfindel about the prophecy, and Pippin being clever enough to go and give them time to talk. Allt he dialogue is great.

Author Reply: Thank you very much! I try to keep the dialogue in character!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/7/2007
You have me giggling, and remembering a fic I think I read here in which, when Angmar declared on the battlefield, "Not by the hand of Man am I to be defeated" all these others turned his way, elves and wizard and dwarf and I think even Shadowfax, declaring that they WEREN'T Men and would have a good chance of success.

A wonderful sparring and conversation, and lovely look at our three lads on this visit.

Author Reply: Yes, "No Living Man" by Elana--a humor piece that I read even before I was reading fanfic--someone linked to it on r.a.b.t/a.f.t (the Tolkien groups on usenet) and I thought it hilarious. After I had already finished and posted this, I thought of something else: Pippin could have mentioned stepped on by an oliphaunt, LOL! Really, Angmar was an idiot if he didn't realize just how open ended that prophecy could have been!

I just love to have Merry and Pippin sparring with one another! They are all three having a lovely time there--but soon they'll be heading back for the wedding: Merry's got to make it to the Hall on time!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/7/2007
Very interesting – this is the first story I can remember that is elaborating the prophecy Glorfindel made so long ago. I had already wondered if he had a vision about that and how detailed his knowledge truly was. Now I know :-)
And it is so understandable that Merry wanted to know how much Glorfindel knew in advance. Was glad to see Merry and Frodo both are able to talk about these dark hours and the Witch-King without becoming so distressed.

Oh, and I enjoyed Merry and Pippin sparring. I am sure they would use their stay in Imladris to improve their skill, with all these experienced elven warriors around to give them more lessons. The ruffians on their way there were proof enough to know that they always could use the experience, even if Sauron was defeated.

Author Reply: Anso the Hobbit (who posts here at SoA) did a lovely three-part fic about it called "The Prophecy"; but I don't know of any others.

They are really able now to have some perspective on these things--the evil is destroyed, and they are free.

I thought they would take advantage of the visit to do a bit of sparring and work on their skills. They don't like the idea of being helpless in the face of such as the ruffians. And I just like the idea of them doing it--I can so see them in my head!

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