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The Farewell in Gondor  by Larner 12 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/20/2008
Ah, the agony of not knowing whether the choice was right for them to leave Frodo in Gondor while they returned home, the wondering if he was going to have a heart attack anyway, wouldn't it have been better if he had been by their sides these years? But how nice that perhaps Frodo was able to 'attend' the wedding. Your title seems to indicate that they will make it in time, but they don't know that. How real this tale is.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Yes, they must wonder if they did the right things.

I do suspect Frodo got to "see" the wedding, perhaps in the Palantir from Orthanc. Aragorn and he would have wished to share that as they could, I think!

And you think it feels real? Thank you!

StefaniaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/29/2008
Good set up of your AU elements so far, Bonnie. Frodo has had a heart attack? Yikes. That's terribly upsetting. I'm eager to see how Frodo's life in Minas Tirith has unfolded, Gondor babe that I am.

- Steff

Author Reply: Am so glad you like it, Stefania. Hope you've been following it and have seen some of how I've envisioned Frodo's acceptance within Gondor. Many of those who send flowers to Frodo in the Citadel are described in The King's Commission, The Ties of Family, The Acceptable Sacrifice, or some of my short stories in the Moments in Time collection. The peacock feathers refer to events in Iridescence and Unbelief. I love Gondor, also; but love the Shire at least as much.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/28/2008
So many what ifs.I guess we will never know what was right for Frodo.It is very interesting to wonder.

Author Reply: I'll agree with that, Linda. We at least get to play with different scenarios as writers of fanfic, however, which gives us a chance to see how it MIGHT have gone.

cookiefleckReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/26/2008
Interesting chapter. This is really very AU, as it's hard for me to wrap my mind around the idea that the hobbits wouldn't have thought Frodo would be best off in the Shire, especially Sam whose honed instinct is to care and protect Frodo. I hope Sam, Merry and Pippin don't suffer too much guilt, though.

Author Reply: Well, I WARNED you it was AU, didn't I? Now, to see what happens as they reach Gondor....

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/25/2008
Great chapter - though their destination in shrouded in sadness... I had to laugh quite often. Very job with this.

Author Reply: Glad it's not all angst. There's a need to be by Frodo's side, to comfort and be comforted. And Pippin remains Pippin, of course!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/25/2008
Am sneaking in and snatching reading time at the moment Larner. Really great to have such wonderful speculations to enjoy.

Author Reply: I certainly hope it proves to be a wonderful set of speculations.

Still praying for your mother and dad. Love to Jet!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/24/2008
Oh, no...He's going to die! Again! But you surprised me last time, and so far as I know you've never written anything with a completely sad ending, so I have faith in you. *tries to smile*

Interesting how things worked out with Frodo not there. I can't believe they argued him into staying though. In their place, I could not have done it. That coming close to begging would have completely undone me, I think, but they couldn't know that this would happen. The thought of Bag End, lonely and empty, is just so sad, though.

Oh, they have to make it in time, they just have to!

This is going to be a tearjerker and probably tough to me right now (angst and drama, the story of my life...*sighs*), but I know it's going to be beautiful and amazing too, and because of that I look forward to more, though it's just wrong to say one looks forward to a death and that's what it sounds like, I look forward to seeing how you write this and what way you find to make it shine as brightly as the other gems in your library turned treasure trove.
God bless,
Galadriel :)

Author Reply: Ah, don't be so certain, my Lady. The grey ship also speeds southward, as swiftly as Ulmo's currents and Osse's help and Manwe's winds can take it. Perhaps not as angsty as some stories I've written.

And angst does appear to fill your life!

A joyful Lent to you!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/24/2008
Ah, good. I was worried Merry and Pippin were going to be left out. They have to come, too. Of course Gandalf had to be one of these who went to Crickhollow! And it is nice to have at least one of the twins in the story.

Now I think I can see where that's going and how it is changing the story that Frodo remained behind. Hm ... some things may have worked out better if he had returned to the Shire, but it is certainly understandable that the other hobbits hoped that he would heal in the presence of Aragorn and Arwen.

Elrond and Elros being fraternal twins instead of identical ones is an intriguing idea. It could be, and would probably explain their different choices better. In any case, it was an interesting talk about osanwë and the connection between twins.
That reminds me - some years ago here was the amazing case of twin sisters, of whom one was pregnant. When the baby was about to be born, the *not pregnant* sister got the labour pains, and the pregnant sister had to give birth without being in labour.

Author Reply: I've heard so much of similar things, although this is the first time I've heard of the labor pains going to the non-pregnant sister.

A friend in Las Vegas experienced sympathy pregnancy symptoms when his wife became pregnant, and his started before they knew they were expecting and were worse than hers were. Those who are truly close often seem to share such things.

But I do suspect Elros and Elrond were fraternal twins, much as my Aragorn and Gilorhael would have been. And Merry and Pippin would have been summoned, I think, just as was Sam. Frodo needs to say goodbye to all three, just as he did in canon, I think.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/24/2008
Things worked out nearly the same as they would have if Frodo had returned to the Shire, that's true. But only nearly!

Saruman provoked Merry, not Frodo, to kill him. And Merry did not send him away like Frodo did. Saruman was shot, but he did not experience Frodo's mercy which was in his eyes the worst humiliation he could receive, or that's how I see the original scene.

With Frodo not acting as deputy Mayor it took more time to review all the documents. But Timono was arrested anyway.

Merry and Pippin ended up in Crickhollow with and without Frodo.

But I was surprised about Sam's remark to Gandalf:

Good thing as the Master’s brighter’n the Mayor and Thain both and set up a gaol of sorts to hold him.

He does not seem to have a high opinion of Paladin Took, does he? And he seems to have forgotten what is "proper" to say and what not. What leads him to say that, I wonder?

Anyway, they have little time to discuss such matters. They have to reach Frodo as soon as possible, before it's too late. I'm looking forward to reading more!

Author Reply: I suspect the very thought of the Thain not believing his son would lower his standing in Sam's eyes. The very important things I think the Creator would see working out as best could be done; but the Shire doesn't have Frodo's model of intelligence and compassion to follow this time, so many things end up more muddled. But I always suspected that Saradoc was in many ways steadier and more far-seeing than his brother-in-law; Paladin may or may not have inherited the "Took-sight" but he does tend to go a bit overboard when his emotions are riled.

Now, to the rest of the ride.

SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/24/2008
Interesting that the hobbits were the one to talk Frodo into staying in Minas Tirith. I also like the notion that perhaps Elros and Elrond were fraternal, rather than identical, twins. The different choices they made make much more sense that way...

Odd, random thought. It's known that fraternal twins can result from different - hm. I'll use my characters usual phrase and say 'marital acts.' Wonder what it would have felt like for a young elf-woman who knows she's conceived to realize that she's conceived again? /random

Author Reply: Yes--sometimes it's possible for fraternal twins to be conceived separately, I'm told. That would be a question--how might Elwing have experienced the situation, had that happened?

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