Going, Going, Gone by Lindelea
Shireling · 19 September 2004 · Chapter 12: Epilogue
This was excellent! Purely wonderful! It had a bit of everything; drama, humor, excitment, angst....With Aragorn/Strider, Merry, Pippin, Sam, Tom Bombadil, Rosie....And all put together flawlessly! Great job, you're a marvelous writer, and I really enjoyed reading this fic. =)Five stars *****
Author's reply
Would you believe I first saw this review now? Sorry for the extremely belated thank you.
esamen · 13 August 2004 · Chapter 12: Epilogue
Bravo! A stellar piece of work. Very Tolkien in spite of the unusual story . . . or maybe even because of it. Thank you, thank you!
Author's reply
You're most welcome. That's a game I play when I write "AU"--can I still keep the characters perfectly in-character, no matter what odd things are happening in the story? Glad this one worked. Thank you!
Bodkin · 12 August 2004 · Chapter 12: Epilogue
And they all lived happily ever after. Sweet.
Author's reply
You got it. Gave 'em the fairytale ending. Thanks.
Bodkin · 11 August 2004 · Chapter 11: Seeing is Believing
Frodo - called back to life by Sam's love. Good for Celeborn. Only he could have had an answer to this problem. I like the query about invisible elves running about Middle Earth. Frodo will be happy to see Bilbo - and for Bilbo to see him.
Bodkin · 10 August 2004 · Chapter 10: Trip to Rivendell
Revisiting Rivendell without being chased by Black Riders sounds a rather pleasant thing to do. Especially with Bilbo's / Frodo's birthday to celebrate. I hope Celeborn has some scheme in mind!
Bodkin · 9 August 2004 · Chapter 9: Cutting It Close
I think the hair answers the other point too! Pippin has a very interesting perspective on life - I think between him and Merry you have an original, inventive and practical combination. Invisible cream - how about some visible cream? If he is invisible, but not transparent - what is the effect when he stands between someone and what they are looking at? Surely he would be silhouetted?
Author's reply
Invisible but not transparent... I gave this quite a bit of thought while writing the story. No, he wouldn't be silhouetted. He is like a clear glass filled with water for those to see who can. Since it's a spell, or magic, or whatever you'd call it, people see through him but not *into* him. Thus he can eat and the food disappears once it's inside his mouth. If he were to swallow something more substantial, say, a penny, it would disappear from the moment it went into his mouth (providing he closed his mouth) until it emerged again, after passing through his system. Like having "invisible" cream smeared over your skin. If you're invisible you cannot block someone's view of what's behind you. But not transparent. Frankly, I didn't want to imagine the unsavoury sight of food being chewed, swallowed, and digested. Poor Frodo. He doesn't even cast a shadow on a sunny day. Magic can be quite convenient. It allows you to ignore laws of physics and have precisely the effect you want in a story. Such power: I try not to abuse it too much.
Lindorien · 8 August 2004 · Chapter 7: Revisiting Some Old Haunts
Okay, Lin, I'm having a Summary Version of LOTR moment here: Merry: Do you think this could have anything to do with the morgul blade? duh. Sorry - I'm remembering all the times people said the word 'queer' to describe everything from Really Scary Stuff to the weather. Okay, I'm reading on, just had to break and point this up. He brought his hands down upon his knees with a slap. 'Well,' he said, 'I was forgetting why I came.' Okay - that's probably not meant as funny, but it is. Oh well, Frodo's disappearing. Oh, by the way...lalalalalala. And Tom BOMBADILLO. Want some poetry. I'll have to come up with some you know. I see 'Tom Bombadil' and it's almost a Pavlovian Response. After one of these encounters, hearing Frodo sigh, he said, 'You know, cousin, with a tin cup you could make quite a lot of money as a beggar...' Coffee spray... You DID write Bombadil poetry. But it's SERIOUS Bombadil poetry. Is that possible? And you didn't use Armadillo ONCE. harumph! I read on... Lindorien
Bodkin · 8 August 2004 · Chapter 8: Letter from Gondor
This has nothing to do with your story (sorry) and more to do with the - h'mmm, wastes. No, isn't it funny how books tend to avoid the topic! (Not). But one of the criticisms some strange people were making of Harry Potter is that it is never mentioned that HP has baths/showers or cleans his teeth - well, how surprising. Novels obviously require several chapters describing the bathing habits of the main characters. And how they deal with athlete's foot. And their visits to have their hair cut. Nobody in the movies ever locks their car doors either.
Lindorien · 8 August 2004 · Chapter 6: Cover Up
Okay, there's something very hobbity about this whole thing. There's Rosie coming up with all the practical solution and her and Sam just kinda keepin' on keepin' on. maybe it's cause I'm still waiting for the coffee to brew, but this is really giving me a chuckle. Lindorien
Lindorien · 8 August 2004 · Chapter 5: Going, Going, Gone...
Oh dear. It's early on a Sunday morning and I'm chuckling here in the bed and trying not to wake the husband. Also thinking I should go make sure the kids are fed and not burning down the house or something, but this is FUNNY. Like the Shire's own version of the invisible man! No head! I love it! Okay, okay, this is quirky. I like quirky. Lindorien
Lindorien · 8 August 2004 · Chapter 4: Sleight of Hand
This one has me chuckling even more. I'm trying to stop biting my nails? Look ma, no hands? I don't know where you're going with this, Lin, but this disappearing in stages is pretty darned funny. And Frodo and Rosie at the end. On to the next chapter...Lindorien
esamen · 7 August 2004 · Chapter 8: Letter from Gondor
Well, I have to say, you have made a believer out of me. I admit to being skeptical during the first few chapters . . . but you've got me hook, line and sinker now. Marvelous, marvelous! A whole new vector in the Middle-earth tales. This is great! I can't wait for the next chapter now! And I can't believe how good this story is. Now, you had better tell us pretty soon what Celeborn wrote . . . and give Frodo's invisible hair a trim . . . or we'll all have to come over there and do something drastic to you. Happy writing, esamen.
Author's reply
Well, thank you! You make me want to see just how far I can stretch your credulity... how about a tale where all the hobbits start slinging modern or semi-modern slang, and yet stay completely in character? Not sure? Well, it's next on the list for posting, after the last chapter of this one goes up. Let me know what you think. *g* (It was great fun to write, anyhow) Yes, Celeborn's news, and Frodo's haircut are in upcoming chapters.
Bodkin · 7 August 2004 · Chapter 8: Letter from Gondor
Rosie is remarkably intelligent - Rosie for Thain! She understands Pippin much better than his father does. And she is right about how he puts Frodo at his ease. Merry is more serious and sensible, but he wants to make things work. Pippin is better at accepting them as they are and working round them. I wonder if Frodo's hair becomes visible again when it is cut from his head? And what about his - h'mm - wastes? What does Celeborn say?
Author's reply
Hmmm. Wastes. D'y'know, that sort of thing was never mentioned in the type of cultured writing I attempt to emulate. D'you suppose they didn't have any, in those days? (No, they had chamber pots and buckets that they emptied out the windows into the streets of London... but that was Dickens' time, not Tolkien's... Still, JRRT does not treat the subject, that I've noticed.) Anyhow, have not given much thought to wastes. Don't suppose they had comfort stops along the route on the Quest, either, do you? What happened when a hobbit needed, um... to visit Mrs. Murphy, or to see a man about a horse, and there they were in the middle of the Anduin River? Of course, they were on short commons by then so perhaps it wasn't a problem. D'you suppose lembas is binding? What if Merry needed to "see a man about a horse" on that long ride with Dernhelm. Would Dernhelm have said, "But we've already got a horse!"? Perhaps I should post all this at Wonderland instead of in a review. It might spark a spirited discussion. Then again it might fall flat. Hmmm, you have anticipated a plot point in your questions. So you'll see, soon. If not in the next chapter, then the one following, I'm pretty sure. Four chapters left, isn't it? Math is not my strong point, which is how I managed to make Estella and Diamond the same age though they were born ten years apart. Anyhow, thanks for reviewing!
Bodkin · 6 August 2004 · Chapter 7: Revisiting Some Old Haunts
Do you know, this is almost enough to make me like Tom Bombadil. (And, I suppose, Goldberry.) Normally he just seems like a pantomime addition to a serious play - like putting Coco the Clown in The Duchess of Malfi. I'm not surprised Merry was shocked - I thought he dealt with it quite well.
Author's reply
LOL, I have to admit I always skim over the Tom Bombadil part when I re-read the book... to write this, I had to comb it carefully to try to pick up Tom and Goldberry's speech patterns. Difficult. I nearly took the easy way and left off the chapter, with only a reference to the visit and the fact that Tom could see Frodo, just as he had when Frodo had put the Ring on. But I managed, somehow. Whew. Thanks.
Auntiemeesh · 6 August 2004 · Chapter 6: Cover Up
This is a very interesting twist to Frodo's life story. It makes perfect sense of course, following up on Gandalf's thought that he would become like a clear glass, visible for those with eyes to see (or whatever exactly he said). Frodo seems to be remarkably calm about the whole thing. I certainly do feel for Rosie, walking in to find a headless Frodo, lol. I can't wait to read more!
Author's reply
Yes, that "clear glass" thought was the seed for this story. Frodo is awfully calm, isn't he? Perhaps he's in shock, or hasn't taken it all in, or the implications haven't hit him yet, or else he's been through so much that this seems minor by comparison... Thanks for commenting!
Bodkin · 5 August 2004 · Chapter 6: Cover Up
Poor Frodo. This is probably more difficult to deal with than the usual physical decline - how on earth can anyone copy with invisibility? Merry must be completely shattered. And goodness knows how Pippin will react. And as a long term problem - how can he carry on as Master of Bag End? How can he 'leave' his property to Sam? Two witnesses - yes - Merry and Pippin - but where would he find the other five? How can he be 'dead' or 'gone' and yet be there at the same time? So many questions. Frodo needs a resolution, a happy ending - and yet there just isn't one. A tragic character.
Author's reply
Well, don't give up quite yet. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, as you know. Though there's none in sight at the moment... (sorry about that bad pun)
Bodkin · 4 August 2004 · Chapter 5: Going, Going, Gone...
This is a really eerie concept. Poor Frodo - how on earth will he cope with this? Thank goodness Rosie has a lot of sense and seems to be able to take things in her stride. Do Merry and Pippin know yet? This is going to be an appalling shock - either to be told now or to find out that Frodo has disappeared in the other sense, if he just tries to pretend he has left the Shire.
Author's reply
I have the feeling Merry & Pippin will find out soon. Thanks!
Bodkin · 3 August 2004 · Chapter 4: Sleight of Hand
What is happening to Frodo is really spooky - he is dealing with it really well, but Merry and Pippin must know. They and Sam are the only ones who can really understand the background.
Author's reply
I don't think Frodo's going to be able to keep this under wraps forever. Thanks for commenting!
Lindorien · 3 August 2004 · Chapter 3: Seeing Out the Old Year
Okay - I realize its a mixture of angst and humor - but his shoulder disappearing! yes, i'm giggling. I do hope that is the right place to do it. Over on my LJ, Lindelea. Go read it - it's the Wonderland Annex and quite disreputable. I don't have all that many entries - 20 total. But I have a couple of Badfics in truly poor taste posted there - Ivory Tower and Murky Waters. Just read, tell me what you think. It's like what I can't put in the mature version of Lindorien in Wonderland. So - is frodo goin to become translucent? Oh - this - Once Sam gets used to the idea, it'll be back to the salt mines for you...' Now ain't that the truth!
Author's reply
Too true. And it gets worse. I will look in your LJ when I have some leisure for reading. At the moment I have a 6yo with tummy bug subject to sudden violent eruptions without warning. As it is I'm simply stealing a moment, while she's sleeping, to post a new chapter. But I am getting into the mood for some poor taste... I reely reely want to add a chapter to "Angst" but I don't have enough names of LOTR fanfic awards collected yet... Poor Frodo. *sigh* I'm afraid worse is yet to come.
Lindorien · 1 August 2004 · Chapter 2: Old Ring-bearers Never Die...
Okay, this has me giggling. Am I supposed to be giggling? Because if this is a Very Serious Work, then I have a Very Serious Problem. The thought of Frodo fading away, starting with his hand and Sam shaking it. It just reminded me of Lindorien erasing Faramir's arm. Sorry about that. Anyway, please let me know if I am having the appropriate reaction. Lindorien
Author's reply
Ah. You have good instincts. This story is of that curious breed: Angst/humour. Yes, it is appropriate to giggle, if you are giggling in the right places, that is. Thanks for commenting! Author Reply: p.s. Lindorien erased Faramir's arm? There has got to be more to that story... Do tell!
OakWolf · 1 August 2004 · Chapter 2: Old Ring-bearers Never Die...
Oh goody goody goody!Fine job Lindelea,I thought Frodo would surely be invicible by the tale's end,good twist just enough citrus without the full lemon!(and I apologize if I misspelled Invisable,Ack I have no idea what Im doing!)Great Job!!
Author's reply
Why, thank you for your encouraging words! Nice turn of phrase: Just enough citrus without the full lemon... catchy!
Connie B. · 27 July 2004 · Chapter 1: Home Again
Interesting. Well we now know the plot twist and the meaning of the title. I think I'm gonna like this one. Thanks for posting this "oldie but goodie" Connie B.