Kitty
· 16 October 2007
· Chapter 97: The Prisoner
Another interesting AU. This decision would have saved all the troubles Gollum's escape caused, but I am not sure Frodo and Sam would have found their way to Orodruin if they didn't have Gollum as their guide for so much of the way, particularly through the Dead Marshes and to the stairs of Cirith Ungol. Interesting to ponder how this would have changed the story ...
Author's reply
Without Gollum, would Frodo and Sam have succeeded? And Legolas wouldn't have gone to Rivendell to report his escape, either!
Kitty
· 16 October 2007
· Chapter 96: Discoveries in The Dark
This outcome would have spared Bilbo and particularly Frodo a lot of sorrow and pain - at least if Bilbo would still have escaped from Gollum and the orcs. But over all, the outcome would have been horrible, I think. Either Gollum or one of the orcs would have found it - and I fear it would have found its way to Sauron ... *shudder*
Author's reply
AU challenges are great - and they prompt so many more possibilities. What if, indeed ...
Kitty
· 16 October 2007
· Chapter 95: Old Swords
It's not so surprising that Elrond had this vision, I suppose, as he could have claimed Glamdring as a family heirloom.
I'm still wondering how the sword got from the fall of Gondolin to this troll's cave so far away. Probably orcs stole it back then. But it's still quite a coincidence that Gandalf found it and showed it to Elrond.
Author's reply
I never thought much about this scene when I first read it - I took it more as Elrond showing off his knowledge of runes! Re-reading it much, much later (after I began seeing ideas for stories everywhere!) it seemed much more significant.
Didn't I say they're only seldom nice? That was not nice, not at all. Maybe Estel should try the same next time and disappear during the night, leaving his bill for them to pay ;-)
Author's reply
*Grin* Like I said before - they are nice! They just tend to tease him ...
Hmm - Estel disappearing in the night - yes, I can see him trying that ... Thanks for the idea! (*evil grin*)
Jay
Kitty
· 16 October 2007
· Chapter 93: Brotherly Love: News From Bree
Well, there are times when the twins are truly nice. They are seldom, but they exist :-)
Hm ... considering this logic, it would be much better to be "only" a fosterling. But then would their affectionate relationship not exist, I suppose, and that would be sad, too.
Errr ... and I'd love to know just *why* Arathorn was forced to take such a drastic action *grin*
Author's reply
But this way Aragorn knows how much they love him. After all, the twins tease each other, too :>)
'I'd love to know just *why* Arathorn was forced to take such a drastic action' So would I - but the twins aren't telling me yet!
Lindelea
· 16 October 2007
· Chapter 97: The Prisoner
Ah. If only.
Author's reply
It would have changed a lot, wouldn't it? I like AU ...
Agape4Gondor
· 15 October 2007
· Chapter 97: The Prisoner
Perhaps not so much an AU - Legolas might have eventually worn Thranduil down and the creature took the moment.
Nice drabble though.
Author's reply
Ah - but this is different decisions. Gollum never saw the outside of the dungeons ...
Larner
· 15 October 2007
· Chapter 97: The Prisoner
And what would have been the end of this one, we wonder? Change one decision, and see where it leads indeed.
Author's reply
It's an interesting AU, isn't it? If Gollum hadn't escaped ...
Larner
· 12 October 2007
· Chapter 96: Discoveries in The Dark
Ooh, dear--we're glad that Might-Have-Been didn't happen, aren't we? (Shivers!)
Author's reply
Yes - who would have found the ring then? It had to be either Gollum again, or an orc ...
Elena Tiriel
· 9 October 2007
· Chapter 96: Discoveries in The Dark
LOL! Oh, I like!
But we would have been robbed of some wonderful story lines....
A very surprising ending! Well done!
- Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you! AU challenges are a wonderful opportunity to write some of those 'What if ...' moments.
Agape4Gondor
· 9 October 2007
· Chapter 96: Discoveries in The Dark
*giggles* You had me going there for a moment. Did a double take, I did!!!
Author's reply
It's an interesting idea, isn't it? The whole of LOTR would be different. And I wonder who found the Ring if Bilbo didn't?
Lindelea
· 9 October 2007
· Chapter 96: Discoveries in The Dark
Yikes! And so he ended up in Gollum's belly, and I hope he caused a great deal of indigestion!
Author's reply
Perhaps - perhaps not. I like AUs - they're very thought provoking. Who knows what may have happened after this?
Esteliel01
· 9 October 2007
· Chapter 96: Discoveries in The Dark
Beautiful! Well done!
I cannot help but wonder how things would have continued. Would the orcs have found it? Or Gollum? Either way, would the ring have willed its way back to the hand of its master, eventually?
My first reaction was relief. Like 'whew', no hardship, ring still unfound... Peace...
But now?
Brr! I shudder at the thought.
You nicely draw the reader totally into the moment: the darkness, the silence... Very good!
~Esteliel
Author's reply
Thank you - I like the chance to write AU, because who knows what may have happened after this? It throws the entire later history of M-E open.
Agape4Gondor
· 8 October 2007
· Chapter 95: Old Swords
Excellent idea - to write Elrond's feeling as he held the sword. I often wondered...
Author's reply
It was interesting to think what may have gone through Elrond's mind when he realised what the sword was. Now I just have to work out how it ended up in the trolls' lair!
ROTFLMAO - this was a perfect ending... but I do find myself feeling a little melancholy that such a delightful little set of vignettes is finished. *sigh*
Author's reply
This 'set' started out as a single drabble - but the twins just wouldn't stop their teasing! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.
Don't worry - I have the feeling that Aragorn will try to get his revenge on the twins one day, but will he succeed?
Elena Tiriel
· 7 October 2007
· Chapter 89: Pride Goeth ...
Hee hee hee! I love this! Elrohir is such a romantic, climbing a cliff to get bright blue flowers (btw, I just love intense, brilliant blue! In eyes or flowers....)
I'm trying to remember, but don't have the time to check at the moment: Is Taniquel a warrior from Mirkwood? I *think* I remember Elrohir being attracted to one in your stories, but didn't remember her name.
And I love that you and I both have Elrohir be the twin who rock-climbs... though by the time he does it in my drabble series, he's had a bit more practice.... LOL!
BTW, I just recently saw the pictures that Tolkien drew of Rivendell, and the cliffs he drew are even steeper than I had imagined... climbing them would be something like climbing El Capitan in Yosemite! LOL! Good things Elves are supposed to be (much) more graceful and coordinated than I am....
Anyway, I'm enjoying these drabbles, Jay... thanks for sharing them!
- Barbara
Author's reply
Thanks for the review! Yes, Taniquel is the female warrior from Lasgalen - Elrohir's had an on/off flirtation with her for many years. In my own mind, there's a much deeper affection there than he realises, and I'm going to write that one day.
Elrohir's rather young and reckless here - but he will learn to take more care eventually.
Elena Tiriel
· 6 October 2007
· Chapter 95: Old Swords
Hi Jay!
Oh, this is chilling.... so Elrond is getting those flashes of memory from the sword? Too bad they're not happy memories, from before Gondolin fell.... but I guess those wouldn't be so searing....
An interesting gap-filler, Jay! I love the idea that Elrond had that connection with his forebear's sword. And it makes me wonder who carried Glamdring from Gondolin, since IIRC Turgon didn't leave....
Well done!
- Barbara
Author's reply
It's an interesting problem. Turgon was killed in Gondolin, but Glamdring somehow ended up in the Trolls' horde - how did it get there? I think Tuor must have taken it when Turgon was killed.
Lindelea
· 6 October 2007
· Chapter 72: Setting Forth
Too bad he didn't think of rope.
Author's reply
Elves don't need rope - they can climb! :>)
Lindelea
· 6 October 2007
· Chapter 89: Pride Goeth ...
*chortle*
I'm sure she was very impressed.
Author's reply
Oh, she was - she's just as besotted with Elrohir. They just don't realise it yet :>)
Lindelea
· 6 October 2007
· Chapter 95: Old Swords
Mmmm, inherited memories, visions... fascinating premise.
Nice little expansion on the scene.
Author's reply
Thanks! It was fun to work on this scene - it must have meant more to Elrond that what Tolkien reported!
Larner
· 6 October 2007
· Chapter 95: Old Swords
Inherited memories, eh? Interesting.
Author's reply
I like the concept, and have used it before with Elladan and Elrohir dreaming of Gondolin. Interesting, as you say!
ellie
· 5 October 2007
· Chapter 95: Old Swords
This is cool! I hope you write more about Elrond's distant family from his perspective or from the twin's perspective. I love your stories...
Author's reply
Thanks! I rather like these 'memories' they have - I've also written Elladan and Elrohir sharing a dream/nightmare of the flight from Gondolin from Earendil's POV.
eliza
· 3 October 2007
· Chapter 94: Brotherly Love: Leaving
A perfect ending to a perfect little snippet. That was just perfect, probably because like Estel, my sister invited me to a day of beauty at a salon for my birthday... and then asked to borrow $75.00 bucks to pay the bill. **sigh**
siblings, gotta love 'em
Author's reply
*Grin* Poor Estel, he'll never outwit his brothers! I like the story about your sister - siblings are the same everywhere!
Poor Estel, outwitted once more by the twins,stuck with the bill, they can be very annoying older brothers. Estel should have sold their horses from underneath them.
Author's reply
He'll never win, will he? Though that's a good idea about the horses ...