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| Might Have Beens by Larner | 20 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| Disturbing, Larner, very disturbing. I *know* that this sort of misguided possessiveness and love exists, but to find it in Sam, and in this way ... *shudder* He was obviously not himself, influenced by his time with the Ring and probably the spider itself. But still, how horrible to keep Frodo imprisoned and force him to suffer for so many years in that demeaning way! I was so glad when Aragorn and the twins turned up, hoping they would save him, and really upset when I realised Frodo was chained to the bed. Oh Sam, what have you done? I think they did the only one thing they could do without taking Frodo away by force, though it must have broken Aragorn's heart do to that. But I am sure Frodo was very glad for it; no matter how one thinks about suicide, he had no other way. Well, at least Sam allowed him outside this last time. And you can imagine how glad I was that Elanor followed with Sting - who knows what would have happened otherwise? And the symbolism that Eärendil wasn't been seen for so long and rose just after Frodo died and the spiderling was killed - great story, Larner, though for once I don't want a sequel ... Author Reply: Oh, I agree--the Ring--or Melkor by way of the Ring--definitely diminished our beloved Sam in this AU--and I'm finding myself most glad it IS an AU! They could perhaps have taken Frodo away anyway, but not, I fear, without causing a total breakdown of relations between the Shire and the outer kingdom; as it is it's likely that Aragorn will need a good deal to forgive Sam, if such a thing ever comes. And neither do I wish to do a sequel to this one, as I noted. I hope also that the rising of Earendil again signals Frodo is now allowed the healing he so needs. Thanks so, Kitty. | |
| Le Rouret | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| Yikes!!! What a grim bundle of AUs! I have to say I am very impressed; I never went down those particular paths of might-have-beens. Of particular interest to me were "Stolen" and "A Treasure Retreived." Very well done - very grim, very heart-stopping! Bravo! Author Reply: I have read some heart-stopping AUs, and now and then such ideas present themselves to me, too. Am glad those two particularly recommended themselves to you. The first one has caught at the imagination of a friend, and she's written some interesting stuff using that premise. Thank you very much. | |
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| Well this was a rather dark and nasty little tale! Sam must not have loved Frodo enough to let him go, or else the Ring had much more influance on him than was realised. Poor Sam and Poor Frodo. I know Tolkien was Catholic and also that his mother was persecuted by her family for converting, but isn't retuning your life to Iluvitar a form of suicide in that you choose the time of your death? This little tale raises a lot of questions! Can't say I want more, at least not in this vein! Lynda Author Reply: And this is precisely why I found I didn't wish to do this as a multi-chapter tale, Lynda. I know what you mean with your question--to know the proper time has come and to offer back one's life is as deliberate an act as is killing oneself to escape a situation seen as hopeless. A lot of questions. I'm glad this type of story doesn't put itself in my way all that often, too! At least it has led to thought and possibly debate. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| And it seemed to Elanor that somewhere cries of terror were stopped. WOW! That was a *very* dark story! If Elanor had not been there to kill that spider, ... well, I just don't want to think about it! Sam was obviously not himself, he was possessed by an evil will. Maybe it was what was left of the Ring, or Sauron or Morgoth, I don't know. And after they came back to the Shire no one was there to stop him. Merry and Pippin tried, but with no success. The only thing that happened was that the Shire inhabitants believed Sam that men and dwarves and elves were dangerous. Everything went terribly wrong! I do not blame Aragorn for giving Frodo the means to commit suicide, and I do not blame Frodo for doing exactly that. He had no hope and no choice. He was forced to suffer continuously - and he had to end it. I'm a Roman Catholic, too. And I have no proof for it, but I *believe* that God or Iluvatar would have reacted to Frodo's actions with the same act as Frodo himself did to Gollum - with pity! After all the suffering he deserved some peace. What happened to Sam after this story, I wonder? Author Reply: Thank you, Andrea. This one sort of possessed ME and had me writing straight for a couple days. It's good to have it written, and I believe that for now, at least, I'm going to allow it to stand on its own merits. Personally, I agree that probably the Creator would have mercy on Frodo; but I'm still going to allow the readers to decide for themselves what was his final disposition. And it this tale gets folks thinking, so much the better! Thank you so for the response. | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| When this page loaded, I could see as far down as "your turn may come too one day." Then I remembered what Angainor was and flipped as I realized exactly who brought this about. (Reaction: AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!) And as I continue reading, it keeps getting better. Sam lying, actual chains, lack of Earendil (beautiful symbolism there), the Void (loved the suicidal ambiguity), and the physical spider crawling out of the wound (I did see that you've done that before, but that for me is so much of the Genuinely Creepy that I think it works best in this sort of context). And Elanor pwns! (Despite the creepiness that is inherent in evil!Sam I am genuinely glad to see a bit of a happy ending.) Thank you for so wondrously illustrating the difference between love and obsession. I'm going to spend some happy time with the canon now and remind myself (several times, probably) that this DIDN'T actually happen. Author Reply: As I said, I had plenty of inspiration for this one! We have to remember that Melkor is the original Dark Lord, and his influence is throughout Arda. When I wrote about Ungoliant dying before after being attacked by Earendil, I felt that was about the most I could creep myself out--then I wrote this one, and it got me worse! Obsession is a terrible thing when it seeks to hold to itself what should be given over and offered freely. As for Elanor--I felt it was time for her to come into her own. Am so glad this brought up so many emotions. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| Wow Larner....just, well, WOW! Author Reply: Oh, I'm glad people find it so powerful. Thank you! | |
| Sunny | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| *shudders* Now _this_ one was grim. I am sure Frodo would have preferred a clean death, rather than this hopeless dying-by-inches stretched out over years. Kahlil Gibran says in _The Prophet_ (if you have not read that book, run and buy it! It is a lovely and poetic piece of literature.) _Love possesses not nor would it be possessed_. And in this fic Sam wants to _own_ Frodo, which is what poisons what once had been the love between them. And in the end Elanor kills Shelob’s new incarnation, so I suppose the ending was hopeful in its own way. Author Reply: Oh, have a couple copies of The Prophet, so recognize the quote. You can't OWN another person, and Sam needed to realize this, for all he did was destroy the very qualities he'd hoped to keep hoarded away. To rid Arda of the threat of Ungoliant--it was necessary. And in so doing, Earendil can return. Am so glad you found it a compelling read. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| Chilling and dark indeed. To see Frodo reduced to such circumstances breaks my heart. And yet he is not helpless, at least not until confronted by Melkor. Yet, in the end he is the victor but not by his own actions - in a sense, it is like what happened with Gollum in Orodruin, in that the memory of light and goodness from long before saves him in the nature and form of Elanor. I don't blame Aragorn for what he did. His options were limited, and he chose what seemed to be the least of evils. But now that the darkness has finally been banished, I wonder what will happen to Sam. He has been living with the taint so long, but is he irredeemable? I doubt that. Author Reply: I'd not thought of the comparison between the situation in the Sammath Naur and that within the void, but it's a good one. And the next generation proves itself against the threatening dark as well! Nor do I blame Aragorn--when he cannot ease the suffering in any other way, what other option can he see? As for Sam--I'll allow others to fill in that gap! But I'd think that Frodo and Elanor between them have managed to call the REAL Sam back--or at least I'd hope so. But I think he and Aragorn are going to have a LONG confrontation. No! No! No! I WON'T be tempted by that! Keep that nuzgul away from me! | |
| Rayma3 | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| Oh my goodness! You are an amazing writer and I really enjoy reading your stories. This particular story made me gasp and think. Great job and please keep writing! Liz Author Reply: Thank you so for the feedback, Rayma. I am honored! And if we think, that is good. I hope to keep writing for a time yet, at least. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/29/2009 |
| You are right, a very Dark AU, indeed, though it ended better than most Dark AUs do. I think too, that it was good you kept this to a one-shot. It's much more powerful that way. If you had made it into a larger story, it would have lost much of its power, and would have been simply wallowing in Frodo's angst over the years, as well as the painful showing of the details of Sam's deterioration. I am very glad you chose to use Elanor as you did. Author Reply: In her way Elanor is as much Frodo's child as Sam's, I think. And that she might have been as instrumental in saving him as in saving her father seems likely. Thanks so, Dreamflower. | |