Bodkin
· 21 October 2005
· Chapter 3: The Searchers
That must have been just the hardest night - to cook and eat and sleep, knowing that Sam and Legolas had been battered by the river and could be freezing to death downstream. I don't know how they could!
And then to find Sam's pack - and Legolas's bow! Two things that speak of their bearers.
I hope they find them soon. Even Legolas's elven endurance must be at its end.
Author's reply
Yes, that was meant to be a hard night. There wasn’t much else they could do; Sam and Legolas were traveling much faster in the water than the Fellowship could go on foot, and the day was ending. What’s more, Gandalf was right – Frodo is more important than anyone else, and he had to be warmed and dried. So they were forced to sit and eat their hot food and feel useless.
shirebound
· 21 October 2005
· Chapter 3: The Searchers
Just keep searching! You'll find them! (Too bad Legolas and Sam don't have Boromir's horn with them.)
Author's reply
Hmm. Yes, that horn would have come in handy, wouldn’t it? Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t send Boromir down the river with Sam; then the story might have been over too soon. :-) The sad thing about the search is that what remains of the Fellowship can really only look so long. Despite the fact that they want to look, they have to be practical. Gandalf is the one who – lucky him – is the voice of pragmatism for the Fellowship. It's not an enviable job.
TithenFeredir
· 20 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
I've lurked through two chapters now. This is a good adventure tale! You did an excellent job of putting the reader right in the river with Sam. Looking forward to reading more! ~TF
Author's reply
If you’ve reviewed chapter 2, then I suppose that means you’ve only lurked through one chapter. I understand! Sometimes it takes a while before I know that I want to stick with a story. I’m getting much better about reviewing, myself. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to leave your comments! I’m so glad you found yourself there with Sam. Every writer has their strengths, and I think that one of mine happens to be description. I usually get myself in a tizzy all over again after re-reading this chapter.
Bodkin
· 20 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
Oh my. This started so pleasantly - loved the fishing spears and the discussions over fire and food. But Sam and Legolas! They cannot have escaped from this without being badly hurt. I hope the cavalry arrives soon - they need help. Legolas is driving himself hard.
Author's reply
Yeah… it did start out nicely enough, but it didn’t last. As I mentioned in my reply to Dreamflower, Legolas ended up being Sam’s companion on the river mostly because he could push himself and still come out alive. And as the next chapter points out, most of the other members of the Fellowship take a good deal of comfort from that.
daw the minstrel
· 19 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
That was pretty scary. Oddly enough, what really made me cringe was how cold the water was. But the rapids, rocks, etc. were pretty scary too!
Author's reply
I’m glad you could feel Sam’s fear, daw. Not that I wanted to freak anybody out, but I did want to clearly convey what he experienced. Before I wrote this chapter I spent a long time thinking about what it would feel like to be caught by that kind of unappeasable force – something that almost can’t be fought, it’s so strong. ‘Terrifying’ would be a good way to describe it.
Dreamflower
· 19 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
This was a utterly *AMAZING* chapter! So much suspense and so much angst! I could *see* every single bit of it in my head, and I found myself wincing each time either Legolas or Sam hit the rocks.
I had wondered last chapter which of the Big Folk had grabbed them, but of course it would have had to be Legolas. I do not believe that any of the mortals, even Aragorn, would have had the strength and endurance to hold on through such a wild ride.
This was just *brilliant* and I am so looking forward to more!!!
Author's reply
Thank you, Dreamflower! Your excitement is contagious, and your reviews put a big smile on my face. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the story. As I’ve told some of the other reviewers, I am very pleased with this chapter.
You make an astute observation regarding Legolas being Sam and Frodo’s anchor. When I first started putting this story together in my mind, I did not know that Legolas would end up going down the river with Sam. But as the plot took shape, I realized that Legolas would surely be the best person to try to swim the river, because he’d be the most likely to survive it. If it hadn’t been wintertime, then I think that either Aragorn or Boromir could potentially have done it, but to fight both the current and the cold seemed to require greater stamina than the mortals of the Fellowship have. Yes, you’ve hit the nail right on the head.
Starfire_Moonlight
· 19 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
I'm never going swimming in a river ever again, lol. That was very exciting chaper. Was on the edge of my seat all the way through.
Author's reply
Just don’t go swimming in any flooding rivers. :-) Some of my favorite treasures when I was little were the Little House on the Prairie books, and I’ll never forget that chapter in On the Banks of Plum Creek when Laura disobeys her father and nearly drowns in the swollen stream. That’s not where I got the inspiration for this story from, but I took from it the clear understanding that floods are not to be trifled with.
Jay of Lasgalen
· 19 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
I very nearly didn't read this - I'm not a particular fan of hobbit fics. I'm so glad I looked! I love the relationships you write between the fellowship, and you have the characterisations spot on.
I'm an elf girl, and I love Legolas in this - he's just as Tolkien wrote him. His selfless courage is exactly right. And now he's hurt?? Update soon, please!
Jay
Author's reply
Your name does suggest that you’re a Legolas fan, Jay, although not that you’re a girl. :-) I’m glad you looked, too; Sam is the main character in this story, but Legolas figures as a very strong secondary character. This is actually a roving POV story. The next chapter is seen through Aragorn’s eyes, and after that comes Legolas. I’m not sure at this point whether I will be able to have a chapter from the POV of everyone in the Fellowship, but I am going to try. Sam and Legolas will each have the most chapters, since the action primarily follows them. I did make an effort in the story summary to show that the entire Fellowship factors in, but I wonder if that’s enough. I think people may skip it because they think it’s only about Sam. Maybe I’ll revisit that summary.
Larner
· 19 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
Swept away indeed, and I suspect Legolas will need all of Aragorn's gift and skill. I felt as if I were there in the river with them.
Author's reply
I’m glad you liked it, Larner. I happen to be very proud of this chapter, mostly because the description and the action came together so nicely. I wonder if the title made anyone think of a certain critically eviscerated Madonna movie (which I have not seen, so I can’t say whether it deserved its knocks). I did think that "Swept Away" was very fitting; I'm very glad you noticed it.
shirebound
· 19 October 2005
· Chapter 2: Swept Away
Oh my, how exciting! I hope Frodo, Legolas, and Sam get lots of warmth, comfort, and hot food when this is all over.
Author's reply
Thanks, shirebound! Just writing this chapter got my pulse pounding. It didn’t need too much revision on my part, either; the action flowed very smoothly, and I’ve been very satisfied with it since the very beginning.
Grey Wonderer
· 17 October 2005
· Chapter 1: To the Crossing
Bery exciting! I loved all of the teasing and joking with Gandalf getting a laugh on Pippin and Legolas teasing Aragorn. I can't wait to see what happens next. Frodo was very observant to notice the water rising but maybe not in time. Wonderful chapter and I look forward to more!
Author's reply
Thank you, Grey Wonderer! That’s a fun name you’ve got there. Thanks for mentioning the bit of teasing. I still have mixed feelings about it, as I’m not much of a humorist, but I think it came out okay. Some people are really, really good at writing funny stories; I have to work at it.
Starfire_Moonlight
· 17 October 2005
· Chapter 1: To the Crossing
*bites nails*
Oh crap, they is caught in the river. Don't leave us hangin!
Author's reply
Thank you for leaving a note behind! Oh, I’m glad you think it’s suspenseful. I’ve worked hard at that.
shirebound
· 17 October 2005
· Chapter 1: To the Crossing
This is WONDERFUL!! I'll be pacing impatiently until Chapter 2 appears.
Author's reply
Thank you so much, shirebound! Your enthusiasm is really heartening for me. I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Dreamflower
· 17 October 2005
· Chapter 1: To the Crossing
Oh my goodness! This is just wonderful--I love the slow build up to your cliffie, and the nice believable banter between the various members of the Fellowship. Everyone seems to be right in character, as well.
I'll be on pins and needles to see what happens next.
And by the way, I love your name. That's one of my very favorite of birds!
Author's reply
Welcome, Dreamflower, and thank you very much for your review! These “Wow, exciting!” comments are great. :-) I’m so glad you think that everyone in the Fellowship is in character. Some of them are less well defined in Tolkien’s works than others, which give me more to play with. It is my opinion that of all the Nine Walkers, the characters of Legolas and Gimli are the least developed by Tolkien, Legolas even less so than Gimli. It doesn’t really seem to matter, though. All of the characters have certain defining traits that we’ve all come to expect to see, and the rest is all clay in the author’s hands.
Larner
· 17 October 2005
· Chapter 1: To the Crossing
Cliffhanger! Cliffhanger!
Well written, lovely imagery, and I can certainly see the width of the river and the shallowness where they start to cross, followed by the horror of seeing the flood upon them.
Now, was it Aragorn or Boromir who caught Frodo? Most likely Boromir, I think.
Author's reply
Hello, Larner, and welcome! The cliffhanger shouldn’t last too long. Chapter 2 ought to be up on Wednesday. Thank you very much for saying that you think the story is well-written; that means the world to me. Hopefully it will continue to be so. As for description, I do enjoy writing it, but it often ends up being more challenging than I think it will. First off, I’ve got to get others to see at least some part of what I see in my mind’s eye. Also, I sometimes find that the details really do matter because they influence the narrative. I find myself spending quite a bit of time mulling over things like how wide the river is, how high the cliffs are, how far the Fellowship can walk in one day, etc. They all affect the timeline and the placement of the characters at every point.
As for who snatched up Frodo, I don’t think I ought to say, but chapter 2 answers that question right off. I’m really pleased that people seem to be wondering, though!
daw the minstrel
· 17 October 2005
· Chapter 1: To the Crossing
Nice characterizations of the various Fellowship members. You do Frodo's point of view very well, and through him, give us a nice sense of the others. Scary ending! And where's Legolas? What made the wall of water?
Author's reply
Hello, daw, and thank you very much for your review! This story actually contains a roving POV. Sam gets the second chapter, and Legolas will appear soon enough.
At least I don’t have to be coy about the question regarding the wall of water, which was a flash flood coming downriver. While they were fishing Frodo and Sam noticed that it was raining upstream, although they never expected it to affect them as it did.
Lamiel
· 17 October 2005
· Chapter 1: To the Crossing
This is a well written and entertaining story. I love tales of the early Fellowship, and although you may be partial to the Hobbits I think you do justice to all the characters. Thank you in particular for treading lightly in regards to Legolas and Gimli's bickering -- they may not like each other, but they're both seasoned warriors with a sense of appropriate time and place. Too often their arguments become almost childish in fanfic, and you avoid that trap by treating them with respect as Tolkien's characters deserve.
I trust you won't kill Frodo and Sam at this point, but they are going to be awfully cold and wet and quite possibly lost when they get out. And I'm VERY curious as to what kept Legolas from returning -- perhaps there was something following them after all.
I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop.
Author's reply
Thank you so much for reviewing, and welcome! I especially appreciate your comments about the story being well-written. I always think that a story has to be that before it can be really entertaining; it’s hard to get absorbed in one if there are too many mistakes to catch the eye.
Interestingly enough, I’m not especially partial to writing hobbits. Oh, I like them very well, and I greatly enjoy a skillfully written hobbit story, but they don’t come as naturally to me as Elves, Men, or Dwarves do. Frodo is a little easier than Sam, Merry, and Pippin since he’s older and more world-wise than they are (at least at this point in time). And I agree with you about Legolas and Gimli coming off as childish in some works. While some of them are meant to be over-the-top (the ‘pranks gone mad’ stories come to mind), others sometimes take it too far. I also think it’s important to remember that Legolas and Gimli are both guilty of perpetuating the quarrel between Elves and Dwarves. Sometimes one of them comes across as saintly (we all know which one that usually is) while the other plays the role of the lone aggressor. As for Legolas’ tardiness, that will be explained, but not for a few more chapters.