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Between Green Door and Gold Ring  by Larner 11 Review(s)
Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/21/2012
I can't believe that the shadow of evil had not already touched the Shire, but to have it manifest itself and kill an unproected child... -shivers+

You are definitely the mistress of the dark tale.

And yet to see Bilbo reject Its every touch - very nicely done.

Author Reply: I'm sorry I missed responding to this one, Agape. I don't do many truly dark tales, but now and then one presents itself to me. And there had to be a reason why the lineage of the Bagginses in the region of the Hill decreased so markedly once Bilbo returned to the Shire with the Ring in his pocket! Bilbo appears to have continued wearing the Ring from time to time to avoid uncomfortable encounters, but does not appear to have used it to spy on others as Smeagol had before he was forced from his grandmother's hole. It appears he did his best to curb the impulses the Ring might well have sought to bring out in him, and that this, along with the fact he began his association with it by refusing in the end to kill Gollum, helped protect him from Its more destructive influences.

Thanks so very much for the comments!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/27/2009
Oo, that's chilling. And Bilbo never knew.

Author Reply: Indeed. I've always imagined the Ring had something to do with the decline of the Baggins family! No, he never knew.

Thanks so very much!

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/11/2008
A chilling and fascinating look at how the One Ring might have sought to influence Bilbo over those years. And even if It could not fill him with horrible negative emotions then it could still work Its evil will in other ways. That poor baby.

Now I'm starting to have a horrible suspicion that the Ring may have had something to do with the deaths of Frodo's parents. *shudder*

Author Reply: I'm honored, Baggins Babe. Yes, it had to have tried to influence Bilbo, and I suspect this isn't the only baby it sought to destroy. And I suspect it might well have helped in the deaths of Frodo's parents.

Thanks so for the feedback.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/11/2008
That Ring must have been quite frustrated in Bilbo's posession for all those years, not being able to corrupt Bilbo into nastiness, tyranny or greed, or get any closer to Mordor and its maker. No wonder the nasty little bauble lashed out at other hobbits! Now you've got me wondering if it ever tried to corrupt Gaffer Gamgee.



Author Reply: I agree, Raksha. As for how it might have tried acting on the Gaffer or old Holman--that's an idea to be considered, although I loved Dreamflower's story of Holman deciding it was time to retire when he managed to glimpse Bilbo slipping it off when he'd used it to disappear from the S-Bs.

Thanks so much for the feedback!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/11/2008
This is a wow of a chapter Larner. You have caught the menace of the Ring perfectly. Looking forward to tonight to read your next offering!

Author Reply: Am glad you feel that way, Harrowcat. I would think that the Shire would be totally antithecal to Its nature!

Thanks for the feedback.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/10/2008
Fascinating story, Larner, to see something of the time between Bilbo's finding of the ring and the Ring War from the POV of It. Oh yes, I can imagine how frustrated the Ring was because Bilbo wasn't so easily influenced as Gollum was and made no move to bring it back to Sauron.

As for Lobelia - it is an interesting and not even so far-fetched thought that It influenced her and enhanced her already bad character. She certainly was at her best worst here! And to think that It tried to touch her child and she lost it as a consequence ... well, I am sorry for the child, but admittedly not exactly for Lobelia ...

Well, at least *one* of Lobelia's and Otho's had the presence of mind to be angry at the fact how she talked about Teron in spite of not being any better herself (not to mention she truly did it, contrary to poor Teron!) Longo's swift calculation was certainly a surprise - and his reaction rather satisfying :D

Author Reply: Thanks, Kitty. It was an interesting exercise, to imagine the reaction of the Ring to being in a place such as the Shire. And am so glad you appreciate Longo's reaction in the end.

I'd written a story for the LOTR Community challenge, and with Dreamflower's help realized I'd made a MAJOR boo-boo in thinking of Lotho's birthdate (and the ages of certain other Hobbits as well--I really need to pay more attention to the birthdates in the family trees at times!). So, I started thinking on what might have happened to the child Lobelia might have carried at the time, and this story is what happened. The other story will be posted this evening, as that's when it will be posted on the challenge site, along with a second story that I wrote from a very different POV.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/10/2008
The Ring must have had a nasty shock when it encountered Bilbo!
The poor baby.Some things never change,alas.

Author Reply: And if it thinks Bilbo's a hard nut to crack, wait until it passes to Frodo! He must have driven it to distraction! Seems in many ways easier to influence, yet with a strength It had never thought to see in Mortals. These Hobbit creatures must have boggled Its precious little golden mind.

SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/10/2008
What an intriguing notion - and very neatly done! I haven't seen many stories from the POV of the Ring trying to do mischief. Interesting to see It taking Gollum's side, too!

Author Reply: I suspect the Ring would be thoroughly miffed at Bilbo by this time! And at least Gollum's predilictions woud be in line with its own, or so I'd think! So, having found a way of cursing Bilbo, don't you think it would try to see that curse by Gollum fulfilled? Heh!

Thanks for the feedback.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/10/2008
Oh, this should be a very interesting series to follow! *shivers* Very scary to have the Ring that real, but then again, I love its frustrations in being stuck in the very worst spot it could be - and the very best. I thought until the child died, it was Lotho and I was thinking if the Ring reached him even then, that would explain why he was the way he waas, still I would hate for the Ring to reach any fea, but whoa that it could. Bilbo is of course such a gentlehobbit, no wonder that the Ring is having trouble reaching him. But *chills* that it's continuing to look out for another Baggins to be born. Stay away from Frodo, you despicable thing! You will have him soon enough and he will have you and you will get your wish and travel closer to your master, but then, you'll wish you hadn't wished for that! *evil laugh* Makes me wonder if you will continue this tale, after Frodo inherits it and goes on the Quest, now wouldn't that be interesting, but Sauron did not know of his danger until past the last second so how could the Ring or maybe it would think that it was in charge and was just happy that Frodo for some unknown was simply traveling in the very direction it wanted to go? Have you heard the LOTR musical soundtrack? There's a horrifying, riveting track of what it sounds like to be under demonic attack - if this is anything like Frodo battled against for months, it's no wonder he finally collapsed under the assault. Maybe you could use that. It's Smeagol who is attacked in the musical and I marvel at his strength to resist. Wish I had seen the whole thing! The whole thing is marvelous. Now I think this must be by far the longest review I ever wrote!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: I'm hoping to find the musical's soundtrack, of course, and hope one day to see the musical, if I could afford to do so, of course.

As for this series, it is BILBO-centric, rather than specific to the Ring, although the Ring will, of course, continue to be featured.

At first I'd thought of the child being Lotho, but Dreamflower reminded me when looking at the companion piece to this to check the family trees. Oops! However, as I've always held that the Ring influenced things to see to it that Bilbo's family of name decreased, that gave me the impetus to write this one as to how the Ring came to focus on doing so.

As for how Frodo managed to slip by Its notice--well, that will be written one day, I'm certain! Heh!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/10/2008
Now this is marvelous! A whole series devoted to Bilbo, during that lovely little 60 year gap!

The Ring's efforts are almost humorous here: And now the Baggins was returned to his own home, his own place, his own people, and showed no signs at all of seeking to leave his familiar surroundings once more. It did its best to infect him with dissatisfaction, but he remained firmly in place, seeking to fill that emptiness by purchasing new clothes, then sewing loops into each pocket to which to fasten his hapless prisoner. It sought to prompt restlessness in him, and he merely would travel to see this kinsman or that, or would explore sections of his own land he’d never visited.

Poor little frustrated bit of bling! *snerk* And of course, It had to be impatient after moldering away in Gollum's possession for half a millenia. (Which must have been fairly disgusting--if it wasn't on his finger, and it wasn't stashed on his little islet, then where did he keep it? Gollum didn't have any pockets, did he? *shudder*)


(Of course, I know what all the story is referring to--*grin*! I look forward to the reveal!)



Author Reply: The worst awfulness, of course, always seems to be humorous at first.

As for the thoughts on where Gollum kept It--I'd always thought he'd have a belt-pouch bound to the ties to his loincloth--in fact, that pouch appears in "A Treasure Retrieved." But with what you wrote, I have visions of a situation somewhat worse than the one Jack Black gave us on the FOTR Easter Egg to the extended edition. Oh, dear, I DON'T really want to write that, do I? Egads--what have you done???!!!

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