Reviews of That Which is Hidden

Dreamflower · 11 July 2005 · Chapter 10: Taken

This was gorgeous! I do not believe I have read another story to touch upon these events in quite such depth. And I have to say that I liked the subtle blend of book- and movie-verse towards the end. I liked your Galadriel very much, and your Celeborn definitely earned his reputation for wisdom in this story. You kept the focus on Galadriel's temptation and her passing of the test, and more so on her growing love and admiration for a small creature of another race, who proved in the end to be the mightiest of them all.

Author's reply

Dear Dreamflower, Thank you for understanding my intentions so well and for reviewing each segment. You are a very astute reader! Your words make the writing and rewriting all worthwhile. Re: the omission of Sam, the similarity to movie verse was coincidental, not intentional. Hopefully the Notes in the last segment/chapter explain sufficiently (you deduced correctly, yourself). I'm so glad you enjoyed this and took the time to say so. Cheers and best wishes* naiad

Dreamflower · 11 July 2005 · Chapter 9: Released

What a difference POV makes; I had never before considered this farewell from her POV before...

Dreamflower · 11 July 2005 · Chapter 8: Offered

I was surprised here at how you slipped from book-verse to movie-verse, excluding Sam from the scene; yet I quickly realized that would interfere with the dynamic you have set up between Galadriel and Frodo and distracted from her main temptation scene.

Dreamflower · 11 July 2005 · Chapter 7: Tempted

Very suspenseful; I like the sharp turns from light to dark to light again, the shifting mood like Frodo is picking his way through a fair meadow filled with sharp hidden objects...

Dreamflower · 11 July 2005 · Chapter 6: Exposed

And we see one tactic Frodo uses to protect himself: he forces himself to show as much trust as he can, and his gratitude for forbearance both shames and shocks the tempted into refraining. I love Galadriel's insight that Frodo *bears* the Ring, but does not *possess* it. And I like your Lindelor.

Dreamflower · 11 July 2005 · Chapter 5: Desired

This is very dark and creepy. Poor Boromir.

Dreamflower · 11 July 2005 · Chapter 4: Touched

Oh, this is absolutely stunning. I love how fraught with peril Frodo is when in Galadriel's company, as she finds herself fighting a battle against the Ring's lure. Yet he persists in seeing only her kindness, and concentrates on the task about them. She also sees, however, what is going to be Frodo's downfall at the end--his expectations for himself, his tendency to blame himself for that which he cannot help. And I confess that amid all this angst, I had to chuckle when she describes Aragorn as "brief". Aragorn? *nah*; LOL!

Dreamflower · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 3: Seen

You are really exploring some territory that is new to me here. I had, I suppose always thought of Galadriel's temptation as something that came on her just at that time after they used her mirror, and Frodo offered her the Ring. I did not imagine her being tempted by it the whole time they were there. This is very intriguing. I love her puzzled assessment of Frodo, and her difficulty understanding his strengths as well as weaknesses. She truly had no idea of hobbits, did she?

Dreamflower · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 2: Perceived

This is an interesting look into Galadriel's mind. I don't often see her portrayed as wavering or uncertain; yet thinking about it, she must have been to a certain extent. Surely she never expected to have the Ring come to her reach quite like this. And her puzzlement is refreshing. So often she is depicted as perfectly wise.

Dreamflower · 10 July 2005 · Chapter 1: Awaited

Oh my, a very interesting beginning...

Reviews (10)