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| Reconciliation by Larner | 14 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Queen Galadrielq | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/29/2006 |
| You so perfectly capture the feeling of grief in this chapter. Sam's feeling that his very heart has just been removed is very true to life, I think. And it's so sad that Strider didn't understand; reminded me of when my grandfather died and the cat, Tom, was miserable for days, going around the house just looking for him. Pippin's painful realisation that Frodo and Gandalf were really gone and couldn't return and his wondering how he was going to survive was heartbreaking and again realistic. That is a horrible feeling. I like Merry and Pippin's singing to comfort themselves and one another. As I believe Louisa May Alcott said, "...music is a blessed solace." I've hoped to see the exact words to that healing invocation sometime since I read "For Eyes..." and it's very beautiful. Do you have a tune for it? I love seeing the two fathers coming in and taking care of things for their lads, and it's so good to see the moment between Pippin and Paladin. This brought tears to my eyes: “Da?” said the King’s smallest Guardsman. He was feeling very young at the moment, and very vulnerable. He didn’t want to invite more criticism. But he did want--so wanted--his da. Paladin Took was up and out of the chair, dropping the book unheeded on the cushions as he rose. He stepped forward to take his son in his arms. “It’s all right, Pip,” he murmured into Pippin’s ear. “I’m sorry, sweetling. I’m so sorry. I fought it so long, but I can’t any more. Oh, my son--again I almost lost you, and this time due to my own stubbornness and foolishness. Oh, Pippin, I’m so proud of you--so very, very proud of you." Beautiful. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I imagine the invocation being sung antiphonally much as the psalms are often sung during the Communion service, especially during solemn services. Each of the three is responding fairly typically to grief, and it is a moment in which they truly won't know how to deal with their feelings. Grief when you live building up to it day after day can be exactly like Sam feels, with even a feeling of relief when the moment of loss finally comes, as it is now over and can be dealt with. But it can leave you feeling terribly wrung out. Laddie would go in again and again to check the bed where Tony slept, unable to understand why he wasn't there. Of course, as Tony's dog guide, that might be just expected. And little Ruffy kept sniffing Tony's shoes. Pippin especially would feel the loss of Gandalf, I think, particularly as he was alone with the Wizard so much on the way to Gondor and there in Minas Tirith. But Gandalf had always had a particularly wonderful relationship with the Tooks, having been specially close to the Old Took (and Anglachel did a wonderful story about Gandalf meeting old Gerontius at the Sarn Ford, and as you can tell I referenced it in this story). As this story is one of reconciliation in many of its meanings, it seemed only right I should show the moment of it beginning between Pippin and Paladin, for they are the ones who have suffered the most. | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/29/2006 |
| You really got me with this one, Larner! I've often wondered how Merry and Pippin could possibly sing at such a time but to read what they were singing makes so much sense. Made me cry too, which is not something I do often. This whole chapter was reallt beautiful and touching, with Sam going hom to Rose and merry and Pip comforted by their fathers. Wonderful! Author Reply: It's not a swift release of the grief as a solemnization of it as they sang, I think. And am so glad you appreciated the revisiting of Sam's homecoming as told in ROTK as well as the view of Sara and Pal comforting their sons. And that it could move you to tears is an honor. | |
| SlightlyTookish | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/29/2006 |
| Ooh, this is such a wonderful chapter! I love what you did here, how you described what Sam, Merry and Pippin were thinking after the ship disappeared, and also what inspired Pippin and Merry to sing at such a time. And I love that Paladin and Saradoc were there for their sons when they returned, and looked after them so well, just as Eglantine and Esmeralda did in the morning. This is wonderful - it made me cry in more than one place. I'm looking forward to the next chapter. Author Reply: The three of them have just lost what has been the shared center of their universe, and they must be devastated. And yet Tolkien tells us it wasn't long before Merry and Pippin were singing; so the question was what were they singing, and what led them to sing as they did there. And yet singing itself would be right in many ways. So here is an exploration in which they might have been inspired to sing. Sara and Pal, having figured out where the lads had gone, would have some idea as to when they might return, and would want to be there, I think, to help them deal with the homecoming; while the mothers, too, would want to help their sons recover. Am honored this moved you so. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/29/2006 |
| Oh Larner!!! What a sad and beautiful chapter! You depicted their heartbreak so wonderfully well--I loved especially that you showed Pippin grieving not only for Frodo, but for Gandalf as well. And Sam, parting with half his heart, his dearest friend in life. And poor Merry--he has been parted for the third and last time from his brother-cousin, and once more wide water sunders them. And you explained the seemingly inexplicable--how Pippin and Merry had found it in them to sing at a time like that. The nameless Elf was a lovely touch. I can imagine the Wise would not have departed without leaving someone to watch over these three, stricken with grief as they were, for at least part of the way home. And finally--they are together with their fathers, and Saradoc and Paladin understand now, and have done so much to ease their grief. What lovely comfort, as they draw their sons' baths, and feed them and tuck them in, just as if they were younglings again. And Pippin knows that his father is sorry, and that he is ready to be there for him now--what a marvelous job you've done here--thank you so much!! Author Reply: I'd always wondered what had moved Pippin and Merry to sing then, save the heart does need lifting at such times, and singing can be as healing as proper tears. That the easing is interspersed with more raw pain I know to be true from my own experience, for those of us in middle years all too often have known many losses, and more each subsequent one. Gandalf has been part of Pippin's life all through it, and is now inextricably bound with his love of and memories of Frodo. Gandalf was so much by Pippin all through the quest, taking him at the end to Gondor and advising him. To lose him this second time must have had even more impact than the first time, for now he understands even more than before who and what Gandalf is, and how this time he will NOT return. As for Merry and Sam--you've described it perfectly. I also felt that some provision would have been made, just in case Merry and Pippin didn't make it. And right now I think the three of them need someone outside the direct pain to touch on, to help keep things in perspective. And, finally, at the moment they need their parents just to be Dad and Mom, not peers, but comforters. And I'm glad they have this at last. Thank you so for the feedback. | |