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The Cusp of Victory  by Kara's Aunty 4 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 15 on 8/30/2010
Nice repeat of Arwen's line at the ford in movie-verse! And love that holy water does well against the Nazguls--they do make good near-demons, don't they?

Author Reply: Hello Larner,

you know, when I wrote that line I thought nothing of it. But then I uploaded it onsite and, as I was proofing one last time before the final post, thought 'why does it seem so familiar?'. Then it struck me.

Movie-verse!

Aarrgghh!!

Still, I wrote it in blissful ignorance of that fact at the time and, movie-verse notwithstanding - it does kind of work for the gardener (in a Sam-ish sort of way), so I'll pretend it was original.

*innocent whistle*

But don't tell anyone else, okay?

*big-eyed beg*

Chucking the water at the Ringwraith was just a chance thing for Sam. He was actually trying to preserve the remnant liquid in the Starglass (though how he imagined he could do that without the stopper is anyone's guess), and if it had been stoppered at the time, he would have been scuppered. But it was handy (no pun intended) and he threw it on instinct. Seemed apt that if Eärendil's light could warp the Ring, that it's properties (particularly the Silmaril element) might be devastating to a Nazgūl. And you're right; they do make excellent demons!

Thanks very much for R & R-ing,

M ;)

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 15 on 8/29/2010
Oh Thank the Valar - I couldn't have taken much more suspense!

DING DONG THE RING IS DEAD!

Author Reply: Hello Raksha The Demon,

ROFL! Loved the Wizard of Oz quote. I laughed out loud when I read that. So, so funny :o)

Glad to have relieved you of the suspense m'dear - but even gladder I managed to put you in that state in the first place.

*beams*

Bad me!! I should be ashamed of myself.

But I'm not.

Thanks for R & R-ing,

M ;)


AndreaReviewed Chapter: 15 on 8/29/2010
after this mad writing frenzy

Well, what shall I say? You had promised me one chapter, and what did I get: 3 chapters!!! I like your mad writing frenzy :-)

So, poor Frodo lost his ring finger after all? But we can't blame Sam for that. That was not the effect he had hoped for.

I found it very fitting that The Dark Lord Sauron claimed his Ring at last. Even without a body he would have found ways to communicate with his servants - and with Sam, I think.

I also liked it when Sam's thoughts strayed to the Shire, the old times and his original profession. That's typical of Sam!

And at last he did the right thing and threw the Ring into the fire! Bravo! But now, both hobbits are in the middle of chaos. Will they escape as easily as in the original story?



Author Reply: Hello Andrea,

three whole chapters ... don't you love it when you get more than you expect?

*beams*

Sam did not expect Frodo to lose his finger - he'll be devastated (especially after pronising that he'd never maim his master in such a way). Of course, it wasn't his fault, but *shrugs* try telling him that!

I think Sauron actually was able to communicate with the Nazgūl telepathically, because they accepted the Nine Rings of Men from him before (?) he made the One Ring. They fell to his command shortly after, becoming the Ringwraiths. And although Sauron later lost the Ring to Isildur, the wraiths survived because the Ring did; so Sauron, even in sprit form (or whatever form that is), was still able to command them through thought alone.

Or something like that ...

Sam's really missing the Shire, poor soul. A natural enough path for his thoughts to take given he can barely believe where he is, and barely believe everything that's happening to him and Frodo in that moment. In such moments of duress, people's thought usually tend to turn to the comfort of their homes/families, and they lament what they've left behind them.

Poor wee Sammy!

But whether he and Mr Frodo will ever escape to enjoy that cup of tea, or bit of mulching, is anyone's guess! Don't worry though, I'm in the middle of writing that chapter just now, and it'll be up soon ...

Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear,

M ;)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 15 on 8/29/2010
Wow, he actually did it! Throw the Ring in! I wasn't expecting that. And loved also the effect of more holy water on the Nazgul and his fell beast. Sam certainly is a fast thinker throughout all this as he is thrust in doing things and being places that are so contrary to his life before the Quest. And of course Frodo would make one last try to keep his Precious. I wonder if he will have any memories of this most terrible of all the rapes he had to endure. And what will Sam say to his beloved about the injuries caused to him and that he was the one that inflicted it, even though the loss of his finger was unintentional and I was rather confused by that chapter actually which is why I didn't leave a comment. And who was that voice that Sam heard telling Frodo to take off the Ring? Sounded like Gandalf did at Amon Hen but was it?

Namarie, God bless, Your bloom who happily waits for the next update and thanks her cousin for being so great! :) No need to apologize for the word count - the more the merrier! (no pun intended) :)



Author Reply: Hello again!

So you found the next chapter all right? Good! You'll know that Sam has chucked the Ring into the fiery chasm which birthed it those long Ages of Men ago. What a wee star, eh?

But poor Frodo! He was robbed of his finger when the Light of Eärendil - which is part-Silmaril - reacted against the filth that was the Ring. I imagined it would burn the Ring (as it has been known to do to any work or being of impurity or evil intent) with a fury so cold, that it might warp the very fibre of it, constricting it, trying almost to choke it.

Unfortunately, it constricted the Ring so much that it bored through flesh and bone, thus the loss of Frodo's finger.

Hope that's cleared that up!

As for the voice, well that was Sam. If you recall, he heard Frodo (well R-F) screaming "No!". Sam recognised his master's voice - knew that he, as well as the Ring, was reacting to the Water of Light Sam had poured on his hand, and he didn't want any more harm to befall his master. So Sam (not Gandalf - sorry) yelled at him to take the Ring off.

Alas, but the damage had already been done ...

*sniffle*

Okay, I won't apologise for the word count *grin*. I had just hoped to make this a mixture of varying drabbles. Alas, but it seems the theme of the story will not allow me to capture it in so few words. Still, at least you're enjoying it!

I'm working on the next chapter right now, so it'll be up in an hour or two (cats permitting, Sam and Rosie keep clambering over my keyboard, sofa, feet and - in Sam's case - chewing at my wrist ...).

Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear Tooky bloom!

M ;)

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