Andrea
· 16 June 2013
· Chapter 99999: Author's Notes
I liked this story very much and enjoyed reading it a great deal!
Most interesting is the fact that even with changed circumstances many parts of the AU journey went similar to the original one.
Of course, Sauron and his servants did not know at first that Frodo's Ring was not the One. And so they followed him to get It. That gave Radagast the time he needed to destroy the Master Ring. A great plan!
Author's reply
Yes, I always try to keep things as close as is feasible to canon in an AU--it's more challenging that way.
And of course, that's exactly what happened. Saruman AND Sauron were concentrating so much on Gandalf that they just forgot all about Radagast!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it--it was a lot of fun to write!
Antane
· 13 June 2013
· Chapter 99999: Author's Notes
I am glad that you want to fill in the gaps here - the whole journey after the Council and back for example - or least parts of it. :) Love the way the Ring was destroyed and especially at no cost to Frodo - too bad they couldn't do it that way in the first place but then again we would not know these marvelous people if they did and they would not be such inspirations. Can't have everything I suppose. :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Well, of course they couldn't because the Ring Frodo had in canon *was* THE Ring and not merely a "red herring", so to speak!
And I am glad of it for that very reason you state: that without the original story we wouldn't know anything about these inspiring characters!
6336
· 12 June 2013
· Chapter 999: Epilogue
So Frodo was something of a Red Herring as it were?
Interesting twist, at least the Shire did not get scoured, does Frodo get married and settle down after this, I would be interested in more stories from this A.U.?
Lynda
Author's reply
Exactly. Because of his jealousy and suspicion of Gandalf, Saruman was convinced by his spying that Gandalf knew the Ring was in the Shire. Meanwhile, he totally ignored Radagast as a fool.
When the Nine came hunting, Saruman revealed to them that the Ring was in the Shire--he did not tell them this was just his suspicion; he was too convinced he was right to worry about confirming the facts. And it seems that in this AU Radagast was able to see through Saruman and warn Gandalf of his treachery. But Gandalf knew that the Shire remained in danger.
I don't know about Frodo getting married--I generally see him as a natural bachelor. But I am quite sure there will be more stories in this AU!
FantasyFan
· 12 June 2013
· Chapter 999: Epilogue
Ah, I see an epilogue already answers many of my wish list questions! We won't get to see it all, but all is right in the world of Middle-earth in the end, and that is what really counts, yes? I'm sure the hobbits saw and did enough that they still have grown among the great - they are just the kind of hobbits whose nobility shines through no matter the circumstances. Best of all, Frodo will be able to enjoy the Shire for years to come. A lovely story!
Author's reply
Thank you!
A few other questions are answered in my Author's Notes--those were meant to go up yesterday along with the Epilogue. But when I looked this morning I noticed that apparently I had never hit the "publish" button. They are posted now.
Yes--all is right with the world! And I do hope to eventually fill in a few of the gaps I was forced to skip.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Larner
· 12 June 2013
· Chapter 999: Epilogue
I still would like to see a creature-by-creature description of HOW the Ring in its great pike managed to be brought to the Mountain!
Please?
Author's reply
Perhaps one day! I shall have to see what scenes come to mind. But I don't think I'm through with this AU.
Lindelea
· 12 June 2013
· Chapter 999: Epilogue
Lovely!
Alas, poor Sam, not spared from riding in a boat even in this tale... (grin)
No scouring of the Shire apparently needed in this version, either, but somehow I feel better about it here than I did about the film version!
Nicely done.
Author's reply
LOL! No, not really!
Well, I understood about the film version; and I've always felt that if it couldn't be done right, it's just as well it was left off (though I still would have liked to see it filmed). Without the proper setting up for it, it would have just felt tacked on, whereas in the books it seemed like the logical thing to have happened.
But in this AU it wasn't needed at all. Of course, Frodo also returned to a Shire where he'd still have the S.B.s to put up with! (Imagine Lobelia's fury at finding out she'd missed an opportunity to get her hands on Bag End--AGAIN!)
Lindelea
· 12 June 2013
· Chapter 12: Part 12
Hurrah! Perfectly plausible, something I enjoy in an AU.
This reminds me of something I read (JRRT's Letters?) or heard somewhere. Someone asked JRRT why they didn't just send an eagle, or someone on an eagle, to destroy the Ring? I don't remember his answer, but I remember my thought: the story would have been way shorter, way less meaningful, and maybe even pointless.
Three cheers for Radagast (I can still hear Saruman's scornful words ringing in my ears -- hopefully he got to eat those words) and Gandalf!
Author's reply
I don't recall if he addressed that matter himself, or if it was others, but the truth is simply that the Eagles were Free Folk and not meant to be ordered around by anyone. They granted favors or not as they chose. Plus, they were also the messengers of Manwe, and would not directly intervene, I don't think, without his permission.
In this AU Saruman will definitely pay for ignoring Radagast!
FantasyFan
· 12 June 2013
· Chapter 12: Part 12
Good on you for giving Radagast some dignity, and an important job to do! So he caught a fish, and got a ride to Mordor somehow, and has thrown it in Mount Doom?
You know, Radagast is actually a good choice for this job. He's much less powerful than Gandalf, and so less likely to be corrupted, especially since he never has to handle the bare ring. Also, probably less noticeable (unless he's riding in on giant eagles, hard to miss those) given his affinity for the land and general woodcraft. He also has allies that Sauron would discount as unimportant (birds and beasts and other creatures). I hope he has made it through his adventure unscathed, although Pike do have nasty big pointy teeth, and if he's been carrying it around for any length of time, it probably also smells really bad.
Best of all, Frodo has not been stabbed with a morgul blade, leaving a toxic, unhealing wound. The hobbits have had a small adventure, but have not lost all innocence. I hope Saruman has been dealt with, in a way that means armies of Uruk-Hai and half-orcs won't invade the northern lands and the Shire won't require scouring. I hope Aragorn has played a part that proves his quality to the people of Gondor, and his kingship will start in peace and prosperity instead of war. (Although there may still be enough cleanup left for him to do that war may not be entirely avoided. After all, not everything sad can become untrue.) But I do hope Theoden and Boromir and Denethor (and Hama and Halbarad and Theodred) won't have to die. Will we see any of that?
Author's reply
Pretty much. I imagined it as a sort of relay--one beast handing (or pawing, mouthing, whatever)--it off to another as the situation required, as Radagast accompanied it and supervised.
And you are right about Radagast--I don't know that he was less powerful than Gandalf, but it's clear that he was much less interested in power and influence (and Gandalf had very little interest himself, so less would probably be very close to nil).
I think you can take it that there was still some fighting to do--Aragorn certainly had to prove his worth to reunite the Kingdoms, after all--but not nearly so much or so bad as in canon! I don't yet know who survived that did not in the original story (except I am fairly sure that Boromir did), but I hope one day to examine some of those untold bits!
Antane
· 11 June 2013
· Chapter 11: Part 11
Well, at least, Frodo's injuries are much less severe than they were really were and too bad about Merry, but with the amazing power of recovery that hobbits have, all will soon be well, I'm sure. :)
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Yes--I wanted the injuries to slightly mirror canon, thus Frodo's left arm is injured and Merry's right one. But yes--they soon will be well!
Lindelea
· 11 June 2013
· Chapter 11: Part 11
Lovely reunion! I love protective Bilbo, and the preparations made, and the description of Strider and Glorfindel standing up to the large party of brigands (can just see those lowlifes slinking away with their tails figuratively between their legs...)
Author's reply
Yes--I decided to switch to Bilbo's POV this time, in order to move things along!
And yep, that's just the image I had, too! All these ruffians Saruman has bribed, because he thinks that Frodo has THE Ring, are out for the bounty--but they aren't willing to stand up to the likes of Strider and an Elf-lord!!
Lindelea
· 9 June 2013
· Chapter 10: Part 10
Poor Merry! I'm as eager as he is to find out what happened. I'm so glad Strider was there to deal with the Black Breath or things would have been very grim indeed.
I love this imagery: ...like the scent of orchards and heather in the sunshine, full of bees…
Author's reply
That particular imagery was lifted directly from RotK, "Houses of Healing"! JRRT thanks you! ;)
Antane
· 8 June 2013
· Chapter 9: Part 9
Oh, this is a frightening thing to happen! Poor Frodo but I love how brave they all were. Strider, hurry up and came back!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
AU or no AU, our lads are still a very brave bunch of hobbits!
demeter d
· 8 June 2013
· Chapter 9: Part 9
A clever combination of "movieverse" and book. Just where, after all did Viggo's Aragorn get those four knives? I do not believe anyone knew that Merry and Pippin would be along, even Gandalf. So how would he have known to bring four? On the other hand, it is best not to underestimate what Gandalf might have known! You pay a bit of homage here to the Barrow blades, very nice. So it is to be merely a broken arm, not a shoulder stab... hmmm. And I agree with Lindelea, we hope Saruman does not already have IT! Maybe THAT would then become the Quest, a covert mission to get the Ring away from him and then destroy it. This is getting good!
Author's reply
I know. I wondered about that myself. This was sort of a "fix-it" for that scene. (In my verse Gandalf suspected Merry and Pippin might come, but did not know it for sure.)
Yes, because Frodo did NOT have the One Ring, and the Morgul blade was meant for the Ringbearer!
I'm glad you are enjoying this AU!
Lindelea
· 8 June 2013
· Chapter 9: Part 9
I hope that Saruman doesn't have It...
Author's reply
That would be pretty awful...
Antane
· 7 June 2013
· Chapter 8: Part 8
I'm really enjoying this though I do feel bad for the hobbits at the end here. A lot of it is the same as it was on the orginial Quest but a lot is different too. I hope one of the differences will be that Frodo will not suffer so much. We shall see I suppose.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
It's the same but different--and in the end quite different. That's all I can say at this point in time!
Lindelea
· 7 June 2013
· Chapter 8: Part 8
Exciting chapter!
I had to chuckle at this: Strider was not willing to stop every couple of hours to eat, either! Such hardship!
(my only sorrow is that in this version, Bill the pony is evidently not emancipated from Bill Ferny... I will now proceed to imagine a Ranger having noticed Bill Ferny's treatment of the pony and doing a bit of clever ventriloquism to make it seem as if the pony can talk. If Ferny is planning mischief, and the pony could inform on him...? Frightened and superstitious, Bill sells the pony to Butterbur, where Bill-the-pony lives happily ever after...)
Author's reply
Yes, I toyed with the idea of shoe-horning poor Bill in somehow, but with the 500 word limitation, I'm afraid I had to sacrifice the poor pony.
I like your version! *grin*
Lindelea
· 5 June 2013
· Chapter 7: Part 7
Oooo, Gandalf's last line sounds ominous. And Strider rescued Merry and Pippin from brigands, hurrah!
I really love this bit: I ain't had enough beer yet to get the nerve up and Frodo's response... LOL!
Author's reply
Yes, the meeting's not quite the same this time around...but they are all together now.
*snerk* Seemed to me like the sort of thing Sam might say--and just the sort of thing Frodo might do! ;D
FantasyFan
· 4 June 2013
· Chapter 6: Part 6
So Frodo is still leaving the Shire! Gandalf is still planning to accompany him, and the Conspiracy is still intact, although somewhat less urgent in their intentions. They are to visit Bilbo in Rivendell, I know, but I wonder if Gandalf's intention may also be to give Elrond a chance to weigh in on the problem of the lesser ring. Can't wait to see what Radagast has discovered. If Frodo doesn't have the ruling Ring, does someone else?
Author's reply
Yes. I wanted Frodo and the others to still have a chance at Adventure and heroics, even if not quite so dire as in canon.
If Frodo doesn't have the ruling Ring, does someone else?
*grin* Keep those thoughts in mind...
Soledad
· 3 June 2013
· Chapter 6: Part 6
Oh, this is very interesting! I just found the story and read the available chapters in one sitting. Loved the Hobbitses and their food. ;) *And* Balin's visit.
I'm very curious where you're going with this story.
Author's reply
We are getting underway to the truly AU part of it, so I hope you enjoy the ride.
Lindelea
· 3 June 2013
· Chapter 6: Part 6
Fascinating. So Bag End isn't sold, and Frodo hasn't "come to the end of Bilbo's money." Love the letters -- they set the tone very well, and could even be plausible gapfillers in the original story.
(But... it nags at me. If the Ruling Ring isn't being taken care of, is Middle-earth still in danger?)
(BTW, so lovely to see this today. It made for pleasant reading with my elevenses. Have been thinking of you and praying for the safety of you and your loved ones with all the tornadoes in the news lately.)
Author's reply
Exactly.
I had fun with the letters. Of course, as much as I love the Conspiracy, I had to have an AU version of it!
Pay close attention to that last snippet of conversation between Gandalf and Radagast...there are hints.
The tornadoes have been dreadful, though none of them hit us, we had plenty of rain, wind and hail. But luckily the only tornado that headed in our direction never touched down except at a lake just out of town.
Lindelea
· 3 June 2013
· Chapter 5: Part 5
"Rivendell doesn't exactly have signposts." I love Gandalf's understatement! Sounds just like him.
Aha, Lobelia is speculating -- yes, Frodo, you had better take care.
Author's reply
Thanks--Gandalf does have that rather dry and understated way of speaking!
Lobelia would jump if she thought he was leaving--a very different reason for the need of secrecy than in canon.
Lindelea
· 3 June 2013
· Chapter 4: Part 4
Number 24! LOL! (I wonder what became of the first 23?)
So, not the Ruling Ring, it seems. No wonder it didn't have the hold on Bilbo that I expected.
Author's reply
No. It's not. It still makes him invisible; it still extends his life to a certain extent, but it was never made to dominate!
Pande has written an excellent story about Samaril--his backstory is that he was one of "Annatar's" apprentices during the era when rings were being experimented with. I was thrilled when she offered me the loan of him for this!
Lindelea
· 3 June 2013
· Chapter 3: Part 3
Oh, my! Bilbo gives it up so easily!
Author's reply
Yes, very easily indeed, with no need of coaxing from an upset wizard. And no mention of feeling like butter spread over too much bread...
Lindelea
· 3 June 2013
· Chapter 2: Part 2
I can certainly empathise with Frodo here, both in terms of morning reluctance and love of bacon and mushroom omelette! (Just finished a bacon and tomato omelette, as a matter of fact.)
Again, a great gapfiller that could fit the original as well as an AU version. While I'm not thinking of the book at the moment, I can hear the movie Frodo saying, "Bilbo's Ring..." in the scene with Gandalf after the Birthday Party, showing he knew what it was and it wasn't a secret from him.
Author's reply
There are hints though, in how the ring is handled...
Lindelea
· 3 June 2013
· Chapter 1: Part 1
:::Raising my mug along with Balin::: (though it only contains herbal tea)
Such a lovely, homely chapter. Sounds as if it could plausibly fit in to either original or AU.
(and if this is AU, does Balin have a happier end?)
Author's reply
Yes, THIS chapter could...
Questions may be answered. Or not. ;)