Reviews (499)

Lindelea · 31 August 2015 · Chapter 67: Finery, Flattery and Flight

Wonderful. I love your description of Gandalf's assessment, and the hazy, almost surreal feeling you capture so clearly in the last few paragraphs. This: 'It is the price we pay for our valiant deeds,' Gandalf declared stoutly. 'Once in a while, someone actually takes notice and commemorates them.' I smiled at Gandalf's dry wit, more than this once, and remembrance of Bilbo. The verses were well done!

Lindelea · 30 August 2015 · Chapter 66: Prospects of Healing

‘Healing?’ All trace of amusement faded like a doused candle, and Aragorn sighed wearily. ‘Do you earnestly believe there can be any hope of that in one so twisted with malice?’ ‘It is a slim hope, I grant you,’ said Gandalf. ‘The One Ring is a terrible force, corrupting its bearer by degrees until it seems all good is rotted away like a limb slowly putrefying from within. Yet you have saved a gangrenous leg or two in your time, have you not?’ ‘Yes,’ the Ranger admitted. ‘But never one so far gone in rot as Gollum is in wickedness.’ Ah, Strider. I do believe that memory of this conversation will wring your heart with pity and fear as you travel southward in Company with the Ringbearer... I do love the easy relationship, indication of long and even tested friendship. More to the pint, he has said it today. I know it's very likely a typo, but somehow it sounds so hobbity, written just as it is. I could see this being a byword in bull sessions at the Green Dragon or Golden Perch. That rattle does sound concerning. Take it from one whose lungs are not all they ought to be... I had forgotten about the cradle robber. *shiver* I feel so sorry for the Woodman and his wife. Worse, even, that they never had any other children. I could use a headache remedy like that! The conversation with the King (I am amused at the thought of king-in-waiting and king talking together) is wonderful. And is that a reference to Legolas, I wonder?

robnrun · 28 August 2015 · Chapter 67: Finery, Flattery and Flight

I really enjoyed the glimpse into the craft, position, and interaction with the cordwainer, tailor, and bard vis-a-vis Aragorn, Mithrandir, and Thranduil. I think you captured both their work and their social positions perfectly.

Aromene · 28 August 2015 · Chapter 67: Finery, Flattery and Flight

What a beautiful chapter!

shirebound · 28 August 2015 · Chapter 67: Finery, Flattery and Flight

There's always so much going on beneath the surface of even the most merry of gatherings. It was strange to sit thus, listening while one's own deeds were memorialized in song. It was stranger still to hear how one night's dread and bloody work had been elevated to the cool purity of legend. That's a wonderful song! Gandalf's words make me wonder how many songs (complimentary or otherwise) he's heard about himself over the long years.

UTfrog · 28 August 2015 · Chapter 67: Finery, Flattery and Flight

One of my favorite chapters of all LOTR fan fiction!! This had everything to love about elves, Gandalf and Aragorn! Thanks does not begin to cover how I feel.

someone · 28 August 2015 · Chapter 67: Finery, Flattery and Flight

I really like the tailor and his "cheeky work of art"! He and the cordwainder must have plotted it together. It is hilarious to think of Aragorn on the return journey with his new boots and clothes (especially if he and Gandalf have to take a certain ferry)! The feast sounds delicious and I liked the glimpse of Legolas and the song at the end.

Celeth · 24 August 2015 · Chapter 66: Prospects of Healing

I have been enjoying this tale all this time, and not a word to show my gratitude for the wonderful hours of entertainment. Well, enjoying is actually not the right word. There were times back there when I really really wanted to beg you to stop torturing Aragorn...all those endless sufferings he had to go through...there were times I wanted to throttle you er.. I meant Gollum =) I must also tell you that I truly enjoyed the interaction between Aragorn and Gandalf. This is one of the few long stories with Gandalf and Aragorn in it, and I am truly thankful for the treat. I just love long stories so much; the longer the better, so long as they stay as close to the Tolkien's own characterization as possible. This must have taken a lot of research, and heaps of imagination and talent. And I have often wondered if you are a doctor, or maybe you have suffered some of those injuries (except for Gollum's bites), to be able to describe them so well, including the kind of pain that each movement will entail while on the road to recovery! All I wanted to say was, thank you so much for the stories, and I'm so looking forward to more...I "heard" something about another story coming up...thank you in advance.

obsidianj · 23 August 2015 · Chapter 65: Garbled Truths

And the interrogation continues. You paint a vivid picture of the tiring task of getting the story our of Gollum. Poor Aragorn, sitting on that chair for such long hours in his state. But I can understand of him forgetting about food and drink after they have a little scrap of information with the hope of getting more.

UTfrog · 22 August 2015 · Chapter 66: Prospects of Healing

Another great chapter in a great tale. I loved the interaction with King Thranduil and am looking forward to the party. Good news indeed that Gollum did not know quite as much about Bilbo as feared. Every day was needed it seems. Again, thanks.

isabel villena · 22 August 2015 · Chapter 66: Prospects of Healing

I am in awe of your writing skills; are there no limits to your talent? You portray each and every lanscape, character (never mind how small the part) and situation with painstaking detail, yet never repetitive or boring. You make us suffer with Aragorn through his toils -and very few writers, besides you, can convey so convincingly what dauntingly hard, painful work is being a hero, both physically and morally- and smile and relax in his easier moments, few as they are: I chuckled when he annouced himself "exceedingly rested" after a one day break! You surely must be a professional writer? Anyway, here are my humblest thanks for your selfless efforts and for all the joy you bring to our lives. And please remember: you have now commited yourself to tell us the Thorongil tale and the Mordor one too! We will try and not let you forget, we are selfish like that! Am I wrong or are we going to meet Prince Legolas shortly? If so, I am sure he will be portrayed much better than the shamelessly teenager fodder we got on the LOTR film trilogy, which I very much enjoyed otherwise. Eagerly looking forward to your next update, here is a big, grateful hug from Barcelona, Isabel

shirebound · 21 August 2015 · Chapter 66: Prospects of Healing

It's a treat to imagine healing for Gandalf, especially from such a trusted and dear friend. The weariness and pains he must feel, as well as the strain of fending off despair, must be quite a trial for a being such as he. The details of the friendship between Gandalf and Aragorn you're crafting is wonderful.

Aromene · 19 August 2015 · Chapter 65: Garbled Truths

Oh, we're getting to the end, aren't we? *sad face* I can't imagine not having this to read! Loved reading the revelation of Deagol's murder (well, I say 'loved'...) and how Gollum reacted to Gandalf's fire power. And Aragorn ignoring his injuries in spite of everything. Sounds just like him.

Lindelea · 19 August 2015 · Chapter 65: Garbled Truths

And now I've traversed beyond punning to punchy. While idly looking over my earlier comment about stepping on Legos in the dark, my brain transformed the thought to "stepping on Legolas in the dark". Now that could be painful, indeed! (and makes me want to read a snippet to that effect. Gimli, on the Quest, or any number of scenarios... but I'm much too lazy to write today, have spent all my designated writing time in reading and web-surfing, unfortunately. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.)

Lindelea · 19 August 2015 · Chapter 65: Garbled Truths

(Have you stepped on a retting board? The thought makes me shudder. Much worse than stepping on Legos in the dark in the middle of the night, I imagine, thought that's bad enough.) Thank you for the explanation. Aragorn's knowledge of such matters is not unlikely, but uncomfortable to contemplate for all that.

Lindelea · 19 August 2015 · Chapter 65: Garbled Truths

Ah, yes, the dam breaks... sort of. More of a trickle than a flood, but still, one could call it progress. Fat, rosy, curly haired and wooly footed fishers. It somehow adds an extra chilling touch to the story, and reminds me of a snippet I read long ago (it might have been written by Dana -- she's very good at "chilling" -- but so long ago I cannot say for sure who the author was) that replaced Smeagol and Deagol in the scene with Merry and Pippin. It was true horror to read. Poor pretty fishes. coming out of it suddenly with a snarl of derision that somehow, surreally, fit the metre. I had this darkly humorous thought (It rhymes!)even before I read this summation. With the name of an individual and his race and the name of his country, Strider could have found an unsuspecting someone in a matter of weeks; no more than four months even far into Harad. "Aragorn Strider, Private Eye..." Hmmm. Got a kind of a ring to it. (Or would that be Ring? Sorry, am extra tired and short of sleep this morning. Have gone beyond crankiness to punning.) How much more could Sauron, with his swift spies and his vast resources, accomplish? Even now the agents of Mordor might be swarming down upon the Shire, searching for Baggins and his Ring. All levity aside, this is a chilling thought. The gesture was meant to be one of comfort and hope, but the hand was shaking. Hah! It's these little details that make your writing sparkle. 'He does not know where it is.' A scrap of conversation floats at the back of my mind. "A place with the uncouth name of Shire." "The Shire, I said..." You sketch their weariness so skilfully... in just a few descriptive phrases. 'Choose one,' Aragorn said crossly. LOL! I was thinking the same thing! The list of his faults was multiplying absurdly, Ahhhh. Quintessential Gandalf. he would have to sit up again, and that would require an effort far greater than staying as he was for a few minutes more Sad to say, I know exactly how he feels. ...and Aragorn had been raised to... Ah, Estel. Born for such a time as this. Then warm fingers were sliding over his clenched left fist Ah. We are reminded that Gandalf is Encouragement itself. I think of his passage through Minas Tirith during the siege, and the effect it had on the Men there. Excellent!

shirebound · 18 August 2015 · Chapter 65: Garbled Truths

Burglar Baggins! Stole from dragons, he did, stole from us! Songs and stories, yes, Precious: they sings about him, nassty thieving thing. What an interesting detail. I continue to be so impressed with your story.

Lindelea · 17 August 2015 · Chapter 64: Conflagrations and Conjurations

Oops, make that about 126 years from the time Smeagol is driven out to the time Gandalf finds no remnant of habitations. Not sure where the 163 came from. Math is not my strong point. For a long time I wrote Estella Bolger as the same age as Diamond of the North Tooks, because I made a math error... So 126 is probably the right figure. Though another math error is always possible.

Lindelea · 17 August 2015 · Chapter 64: Conflagrations and Conjurations

Fascinating. 'You said such folk dwelt in the Wilderland until they dwindled around the time the mountain passes became treacherous.' This started an itch I couldn't resist scratching. From ransacking the ToY: c. TA 1000 Istari appear in ME 1050 Harfoots come to Eriador 1100 The Wise find evil stronghold in Dol Guldur 1150 Fallohides enter Eriador. (I wrote a speculative story about this, actually.) Stoors come over Redhorn Pass to Angle 1300 Periannath migrate westward; many settle in Bree 1356 Stoors leave Angle, some return to Wilderland (I wonder if these were Smeagol's ancestors?) 1601 Many Periannath migrate from Bree; joined by Stoors coming up from Dunland c. 1630 2463 About this time Deagol the Stoor finds the One Ring, and is murdered by Smeagol 2480 Orcs make secret strongholds in Misty Mountains to bar passes 2589 Thror becomes King under the Mountain I worked out the math to show that 554 years elapsed between Smeagol taking the Ring and Aragorn capturing him. And about 163 years between the time Smeagol was driven out of his Grandmother's home, and Thror became king, in which time Gandalf was unable to find any trace of the community. If they were hole-dwellers, it is possible that there might be no foundations, walls, or outlines of fields left. Did they die out naturally? Were they slaughtered? Were they driven out, or caused to flee their homes? How fascinating to contemplate a later archaeological dig that turned up some of "Grandmother's" treasure trove. You show their weariness so subtly, not so much saying they are weary, as revealing the state they are in with little details. I love the little bit of rebellion Aragorn shows in his tasting the apple and acerbic challenge a little later, and the glimpse of his essential goodness in begrudging himself a much-needed meal when he knows his captive is going hungry (regardless of the fact that it is Gollum's own fault). I love the hints of Gandalf's otherness: eyes sharper than they had any right to be after such a day, not knowing how he showed his aches, his fact-filled diatribe and the flare of his eyes... 'Perhaps some fine hobbit-foods,' he suggested, pushing it a little further; 'or the best travel-fare that the kitchens of Elrond can furnish.' Ah, Aragorn, prophetic words, though you don't know the half of it. I do not know what a retting board is, and my friend google is of no help, it seems. Perhaps I do not want to know. And I am out of time for today.

demeter d · 17 August 2015 · Chapter 64: Conflagrations and Conjurations

The other piece is long enough, but I noticed one more detail. If I had been there, I think the Elven keepers would have had something of mine to clean up as well! You go smoothly from displays of drama to little, ordinary bits of the picture. Almost funny, except it was a piece of an amazing drama! Of course, our heroes would not resort to the kind of blows poor Sméagol-Gollum had received from Mordor. They would have ceased to be who they are. Again, well done.

demeter d · 17 August 2015 · Chapter 64: Conflagrations and Conjurations

"I did not bid you drive yourself to the very brink of starvation..." Powerful stuff, here. The journey which has slogged on for so long now rapidly picks up momentum. I believe you have captured the essence of heroes. They take upon themselves the difficult tasks which would not ask someone else to do, and which no one would ask of them, but which they believe must be done. You have also captured a fundamental part of the best storytelling. That is, the weaving of threads from other tapestries, other, older tales, into a new creation which completes and adds to the older one. The conversation between the two at first reminded me of the Council of Elrond. As the discussion went on, it became apparent to Frodo that he ought to be the one to do it, and took the task of ring-bearing upon himself. Then, when the fire came, I thought of nine travelers and one very cold but stalwart pony huddling on Caradaras in a blizzard. When Gandalf commanded a fire for them, he remarked that a sudden burst of flame would announce "Gandalf is here" to any unfriendly watchers. Even after that display, I am sure Gollum still had no idea who he was really dealing with. But he had to respect that much power! I am also sure that Gollum was too terrified to realize that the fire was carefully controlled, designed to terrify but not permanently harm! Well done!

Elentarri · 17 August 2015 · Chapter 64: Conflagrations and Conjurations

Oh wow. That was a great chapter. I love the private moments between Aragorn and Gandalf. Can't wait for the next chapter.

UTfrog · 16 August 2015 · Chapter 64: Conflagrations and Conjurations

You are an amazingly powerful writer. I can smell the stink of that cell. I can imagine the confrontation between Aragorn and Gandalf on "why he continued". You truly have a gift. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

obsidianj · 16 August 2015 · Chapter 64: Conflagrations and Conjurations

Wow! Gandalf unmasked. That must have been a terrible sight for Gollum. I can't imagine having to interrogate that creature for days on end. No wonder that Gandalf is at the end of his patience.

obsidianj · 16 August 2015 · Chapter 63: Fishing

This feels so real. I can see Aragorn and Gandalf in that cell banging their head against the wall and Gollum just not cooperating. I don't envy them. They get so little out of Gollum for their hours of labor, but every bit counts.