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Passover and Pilgrimage by Larner	53 Review(s)
shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/14/2009
" There are a few small streams, and even more springs throughout the area. Lord Ulmo seeks to reestablish his ways through that land, with the aid of Lord Aulë. Once they are finished that will allow the Lady Yavanna full access once more." That's beautiful. And what a lovely idea of Sam's, to be able to tell Frodo someday of the healing of Mordor. A lake with fruit trees, and joyous song! What a spectacular sight. And then ...there in the midst of the greater forms there appeared to be one smaller one, like a small column of silver light... You help us to see it all so clearly. A most wonderful "Passover", dear Larner. Author Reply: Yes, I believe that once Sauron was gone life would begin returning to Mordor, slowly but inexorably, and this would be one of the things Sam would wish so to share with Frodo, how the site of his greatest horror is now filled with beauty and is even fruitful! Thank you so, Shirebound. Am so glad people appear to like this so!

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/14/2009
WOW - that was truly beautiful!!!!! I'm speechless... Well, almost... I love this iine, “We had all meant to accompany Frodo to the end then,” he said, his gruff voice particularly solemn. “We will go the distance this time, to keep faith with him now.” And bringing Boromir to Aragorn's memory was a stroke that brought tears to my eyes. I had written a little tale of Faramir making a pilgrimage to Amon Hen... this is so far beyond that, I am humbled. But of course, the Ringbearer's path is worth many pilgrimages. I do so hope the rest of Sam's family can make this pilgrimage..... And what a joy for them to find such beauty.... Ah! heavy sigh Incredibly well writeen, inspired, and beautiful. Bless you for sharing this! Author Reply: To do honor to those whose memory should ever be respected is always a good thing, I believe. I believe Aragorn would remember Boromir especially now, when almost all the Fellowship has been gathered once more, and that he would find Faramir's company the more treasured for the memory of that he'd known with Faramir's brother. I suspect that most of Sam and Rosie's children will one day make this journey themselves, but felt that he would rejoice to have shared it with Elanor. Certainly the three lads particularly want to see where Pippin killed his troll! Thank you so, Agape! I am honored!

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/14/2009
The pilgrimage thing in the story is a thing that doesn’t really resonate with me. To begin with, Norway is staunchly Protestant, and that sort of thing is something that “doesn’t belong” – at least when I went to school and had to attend those mandatory attempts at indoctronation. And then, I am just as staunchly agnostic, so the whole religion thing is just bound to fail. What did _not_ fail, though was the ecological lesson: After Sauron’s fall, Mordor went back to what it was “supposed” to be: A desert, which though it is not covered in grass and trees, still has its own stern beauty. Mother Nature always wins – and when it _seems_ that Man wins – for a time – that “victory” comes at a price. Granted, Sauron was a Maia, and he poisoned the land rather than forcing the desert to bloom. The lesson is still there, though. The story is charming in its own way. And if this is what is going to coax your muse out of her higing place, I am all for it. Author Reply: Not all pilgrimages are religious in nature. I know that the visit I made to Bosworth Field or the airfield where my father died were not religious, but attempts to honor Richard Plantagenet and my father and his co-pilot, not to mention coming to appreciate where I was born, a place I had no memory of at all. Yes, now that Sauron is no more the land begins to fall into its own. Unfortunately the muse continues to be recalcitrant, I'm sorry to say; but I have added a few more paragraphs to "Or Perchance." Now--to get some others updated!

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2009
I didn't know you were a Ricardian! I have not walked Bosworth Field myself - lucky you! - but I was a member of the RIII Society for years before I left the Middle Ages for Middle-earth. So nice to meet you in a whole new way! I wrote a paper on the fate of the princes if you would be interested in reading it. I looked at that Holocaust sculpture again and saw that I didn't remember it right and it is in fact even more moving - a younger man is trying to protect his family, a frightened boy has his arms around his grandfather seeking protection, the eyes of grieving mother of the dead child are screaming Why?! Why?! How could this be? For a 'silent' sculpture, it speaks more eloquently and forcefully than words could. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Oh, yes, I have been a Ricardian for many years--for at least forty-five years, since Mom first read "Daughter of Time" to us, right around the same time as I first read LOTR. I have seen the church where his body was taken after the battle, and from which Henry's men dragged it, hacking it further before throwing it into the nearby river and using his stone sarcophagus as a trough for horses. I've seen the towers his brother George and he built at Warwick Castle. I've seen the place where the two children's bodies were found under stairs in the Tower of London. Richard has always held a place in my heart, and always will, I suspect. As for the memorial you describe--yes, I can see how it would speak so to you. Visiting Dachau did much the same for my whole family, and coming to terms with the fact that the Nazis killed as many of their own as they did Jews. It was a most sobering pilgrimage to make, believe me.

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/12/2009
I love the concept of this! And can't wait to follow Merry's obvious decision to 'do something.' Bless his little heart. I loved the eagles too - very nicely done! Author Reply: Am so glad you've been able to appreciate this, and Merry's desire to fully appreciate what Frodo went through, with the unexpected consequence of seeing the land renewing itself as a result. Thank you so! I, too, love the Great Eagles.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/12/2009
That's neat about the eagles appearing. And Aragorn is right about memorials to be only to a few people to have more impact. On the lands of the library that I live behind there is a Holocaust memorial of a old man trying to protect his family and a grieving woman holding a dead child. That is pretty powerful! So Frodo and Sam memorials would be for the War of the Ring. Love Sam here. Also read recently that some people used to wear small heavy objects under their clothes to try to get a feel of what it felt like to Frodo to carry the Ring so understand why Merry would want to know what it felt like for Frodo - something he could truly never know just as those carrying objects could only feel the physical weight of the burden but not the spiritual torment. Very true that Frodo would not want anyone to feel that and that was the very reason he took the poison within himself so others would be spared. I look forward to continuing with everyone on this pilgrimage. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I have spent much of the last week standing by one who has heard voices of torment in her heart, so begin to appreciate the more just what Frodo must have experienced both during the time he carried the Ring and afterward when Its echoes sounded in his heart. And I've stood in Dachau, looking at the three memorial chapels--Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish--to the thousands who died there. Six million Jews died, and at least that many who were not Jewish as well. Let us remember them all! And I think that the Great Eagles would find this project most interesting! Thank you so!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/11/2009
Great beginning! Sam found himself looking at Merry’s hands, noting how Frodo’s cousin tended to hold things much as Frodo himself had done. I always thought that Merry and Frodo were much more alike than for example Frodo and Sam. Frodo was always there for Merry throughout his life. So, naturally Merry wanted to help Frodo on the quest. But in the end he was not there . He cannot be blamed for that. He was far too weak after his encounter with the Black Breath to go to war. But he blames himself! And that's the problem. Besides, it is another characteristic he shares with Frodo. Let's hope this pilgrimage will give him some peace. He really deserves it! Author Reply: It's all too likely that Merry would indeed have felt a level of guilt, much as Frodo himself probably did. And I suspect that Merry learned to write and to use his knife from Frodo, so his grip should remind others of his older cousin. I'll be adding onto this story in a few days, so we will see what will be seen then!

Celeritas	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/10/2009
I got really excited about this story as soon as I'd seen the summary, and I'm glad to see my expectations fulfilled now that I've gotten around to reading this first bit. I like the idea of the pilgrimage sites--they're a lovely transition for Gondor in the Fourth Age since they evoke the high Middle Ages and the many, many people who would travel uncounted distances and face untold dangers (the road was not a safe place!) just to feel closer to a saint. And there's lots of Merry, and lots of Merry missing Frodo and coming to peace with that, which is a refreshing change of pace. I'm looking forward to see how this broadens the rest of your oeuvre and my appreciation of LotR. I really think you're on to something with this one. Author Reply: Yes, indeed, I would look for much the same setting you describe! And Merry, too, must have deeply missed his cousin! Thanks so--hope the remainder does indeed add to your appreciation!

Inzilbeth	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/10/2009
This is quite wonderful, Larner. I've not read anything covering this visit to Gondor before and this seem very appropriate. It's good to know what Radagast has been up to as well. I look forward to more. Author Reply: I suspect that it was here in the aftermath of the Ring-war that Radagast truly came into his own. This isn't particularly long, so you will be seeing more soon enough. Thank you so, Inzilbeth.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/10/2009
Faramir’s description of Denethor visiting the wounded rings quite true – can so see Denethor feeling uncomfortable under the circumstances! Really like Aragorn’s explanation why this way for a pilgrimage was created. Yes, I can see people thinking like that. And at the same time, it’s a nice way to remember what happened and to honour all the people who went to sacrifice themselves. Sam’s litany of why he could not bring the other children as well left me giggling, though he has a point. Reminded me somehow of that ‚Not gonna happen’ crossover with Nanny McPhee ;) I have the feeling Merry needed this journey to finally come to terms with the loss of his older cousin and his memories. Glad he’s with people who know and understand. Oooh, that memorial is fascinating! What a great idea to depict the great Eagles together with Gandalf bringing Frodo and Sam out of Mordor! And that the Eagles themselves came by to greet the party and to have a look at their monument was just perfect. Wonderful, Larner! Author Reply: I've rather based Denethor here on my grandmother, who would be tense for a time until she found someone she could talk to. People do find themselves wanting to understand those who went through the worst--and the best; I've walked Bosworth Field and the route about the walls of the house where Elizabeth I was held in Hertford by her sister's orders, and later within the Tower of London where she followed so many others, and was followed by still more, some of whom died ignominously and some of whom were released, as well as visiting the site of the concentration camp at Dachau; we need such reminders of what others have been through! And it is usually easier to focus on a particular individual or two than to try to imagine so many who suffered! Indeed, I did have "Why Mums and Dads Leave Home" in mind as I had Sam explaining what his children are like. I see them as very much strong-minded individuals, each with his or her own quirks. And it was fun to revisit that little crossover at least a bit! Yes, Merry is needing this more openly than the others, but I suspect all are finding it both disturbing to a point, but also healing. Am so glad you like this memorial! Thank you! And it was wonderful to find a way to work the Great Eagles into this tale. Thank you so, Kitty. Hope the rest continues to please.

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