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| The Least of Rings by Dreamflower | 31 Review(s) |
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| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 6/16/2013 |
| I liked this story very much and enjoyed reading it a great deal! Most interesting is the fact that even with changed circumstances many parts of the AU journey went similar to the original one. Of course, Sauron and his servants did not know at first that Frodo's Ring was not the One. And so they followed him to get It. That gave Radagast the time he needed to destroy the Master Ring. A great plan! Author Reply: Yes, I always try to keep things as close as is feasible to canon in an AU--it's more challenging that way. And of course, that's exactly what happened. Saruman AND Sauron were concentrating so much on Gandalf that they just forgot all about Radagast! I'm so glad you enjoyed it--it was a lot of fun to write! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 6/13/2013 |
| I am glad that you want to fill in the gaps here - the whole journey after the Council and back for example - or least parts of it. :) Love the way the Ring was destroyed and especially at no cost to Frodo - too bad they couldn't do it that way in the first place but then again we would not know these marvelous people if they did and they would not be such inspirations. Can't have everything I suppose. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Well, of course they couldn't because the Ring Frodo had in canon *was* THE Ring and not merely a "red herring", so to speak! And I am glad of it for that very reason you state: that without the original story we wouldn't know anything about these inspiring characters! | |
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue on 6/12/2013 |
| So Frodo was something of a Red Herring as it were? Interesting twist, at least the Shire did not get scoured, does Frodo get married and settle down after this, I would be interested in more stories from this A.U.? Lynda Author Reply: Exactly. Because of his jealousy and suspicion of Gandalf, Saruman was convinced by his spying that Gandalf knew the Ring was in the Shire. Meanwhile, he totally ignored Radagast as a fool. When the Nine came hunting, Saruman revealed to them that the Ring was in the Shire--he did not tell them this was just his suspicion; he was too convinced he was right to worry about confirming the facts. And it seems that in this AU Radagast was able to see through Saruman and warn Gandalf of his treachery. But Gandalf knew that the Shire remained in danger. I don't know about Frodo getting married--I generally see him as a natural bachelor. But I am quite sure there will be more stories in this AU! | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue on 6/12/2013 |
| Ah, I see an epilogue already answers many of my wish list questions! We won't get to see it all, but all is right in the world of Middle-earth in the end, and that is what really counts, yes? I'm sure the hobbits saw and did enough that they still have grown among the great - they are just the kind of hobbits whose nobility shines through no matter the circumstances. Best of all, Frodo will be able to enjoy the Shire for years to come. A lovely story! Author Reply: Thank you! A few other questions are answered in my Author's Notes--those were meant to go up yesterday along with the Epilogue. But when I looked this morning I noticed that apparently I had never hit the "publish" button. They are posted now. Yes--all is right with the world! And I do hope to eventually fill in a few of the gaps I was forced to skip. I'm glad you enjoyed it! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue on 6/12/2013 |
| I still would like to see a creature-by-creature description of HOW the Ring in its great pike managed to be brought to the Mountain! Please? Author Reply: Perhaps one day! I shall have to see what scenes come to mind. But I don't think I'm through with this AU. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue on 6/12/2013 |
| Lovely! Alas, poor Sam, not spared from riding in a boat even in this tale... (grin) No scouring of the Shire apparently needed in this version, either, but somehow I feel better about it here than I did about the film version! Nicely done. Author Reply: LOL! No, not really! Well, I understood about the film version; and I've always felt that if it couldn't be done right, it's just as well it was left off (though I still would have liked to see it filmed). Without the proper setting up for it, it would have just felt tacked on, whereas in the books it seemed like the logical thing to have happened. But in this AU it wasn't needed at all. Of course, Frodo also returned to a Shire where he'd still have the S.B.s to put up with! (Imagine Lobelia's fury at finding out she'd missed an opportunity to get her hands on Bag End--AGAIN!) | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/12/2013 |
| Hurrah! Perfectly plausible, something I enjoy in an AU. This reminds me of something I read (JRRT's Letters?) or heard somewhere. Someone asked JRRT why they didn't just send an eagle, or someone on an eagle, to destroy the Ring? I don't remember his answer, but I remember my thought: the story would have been way shorter, way less meaningful, and maybe even pointless. Three cheers for Radagast (I can still hear Saruman's scornful words ringing in my ears -- hopefully he got to eat those words) and Gandalf! Author Reply: I don't recall if he addressed that matter himself, or if it was others, but the truth is simply that the Eagles were Free Folk and not meant to be ordered around by anyone. They granted favors or not as they chose. Plus, they were also the messengers of Manwe, and would not directly intervene, I don't think, without his permission. In this AU Saruman will definitely pay for ignoring Radagast! | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/12/2013 |
| Good on you for giving Radagast some dignity, and an important job to do! So he caught a fish, and got a ride to Mordor somehow, and has thrown it in Mount Doom? You know, Radagast is actually a good choice for this job. He's much less powerful than Gandalf, and so less likely to be corrupted, especially since he never has to handle the bare ring. Also, probably less noticeable (unless he's riding in on giant eagles, hard to miss those) given his affinity for the land and general woodcraft. He also has allies that Sauron would discount as unimportant (birds and beasts and other creatures). I hope he has made it through his adventure unscathed, although Pike do have nasty big pointy teeth, and if he's been carrying it around for any length of time, it probably also smells really bad. Best of all, Frodo has not been stabbed with a morgul blade, leaving a toxic, unhealing wound. The hobbits have had a small adventure, but have not lost all innocence. I hope Saruman has been dealt with, in a way that means armies of Uruk-Hai and half-orcs won't invade the northern lands and the Shire won't require scouring. I hope Aragorn has played a part that proves his quality to the people of Gondor, and his kingship will start in peace and prosperity instead of war. (Although there may still be enough cleanup left for him to do that war may not be entirely avoided. After all, not everything sad can become untrue.) But I do hope Theoden and Boromir and Denethor (and Hama and Halbarad and Theodred) won't have to die. Will we see any of that? Author Reply: Pretty much. I imagined it as a sort of relay--one beast handing (or pawing, mouthing, whatever)--it off to another as the situation required, as Radagast accompanied it and supervised. And you are right about Radagast--I don't know that he was less powerful than Gandalf, but it's clear that he was much less interested in power and influence (and Gandalf had very little interest himself, so less would probably be very close to nil). I think you can take it that there was still some fighting to do--Aragorn certainly had to prove his worth to reunite the Kingdoms, after all--but not nearly so much or so bad as in canon! I don't yet know who survived that did not in the original story (except I am fairly sure that Boromir did), but I hope one day to examine some of those untold bits! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 6/11/2013 |
| Well, at least, Frodo's injuries are much less severe than they were really were and too bad about Merry, but with the amazing power of recovery that hobbits have, all will soon be well, I'm sure. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes--I wanted the injuries to slightly mirror canon, thus Frodo's left arm is injured and Merry's right one. But yes--they soon will be well! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 6/11/2013 |
| Lovely reunion! I love protective Bilbo, and the preparations made, and the description of Strider and Glorfindel standing up to the large party of brigands (can just see those lowlifes slinking away with their tails figuratively between their legs...) Author Reply: Yes--I decided to switch to Bilbo's POV this time, in order to move things along! And yep, that's just the image I had, too! All these ruffians Saruman has bribed, because he thinks that Frodo has THE Ring, are out for the bounty--but they aren't willing to stand up to the likes of Strider and an Elf-lord!! | |