Title: The Fire, Roaring (Frodo, G)

[lanthirel]

Title: The Fire, Roaring
Author: Lanthirel, aka Deidre
Characters: Frodo
Rating: G
Book/Source: Lotr: The Return of the King; could be either book or movie 'verse
Disclaimer: Tolkien implied in a letter that we could play in his sandbox.
Notes: For the Resolute challenge at tolkien_weekly

Comments

[just_ann_now]

*waves* Hello, and welcome back! It's been a while.

I was going to quote my favorite bits of the first paragraph, but it's all quite powerful - the weight of the whole world on his shoulders; and seeking for the strength simply to complete the task, abandoning all hope of return. Poor Frodo!

But he had not reckoned with the pain of longing for the power of the One Ring.

Wow. There are two really fascinating aspects here. First, that the pain of not-having the ring would be so daunting - I'm reminded of amputees who suffer phantom pain in their missing limbs. Second, that the loss of the power - the very thought of having that power, whether or not he has any ideas of how he would use it - would cause Frodo such anguish. In a very few words you've conveyed so very much.

[lanthirel]

Thank you for your kind welcome back. :) Alas, it has been a while. I haven't written much in the past year, due to all sorts of family problems. :(

And I'm more than pleased that you saw all that in the drabble. :) I love it when people see more than I was thinking of when I wrote it. I once thought of writing as a one-way street; now I'm seeing more and more that it is the readers who can help the writer see even more than what they (the writers) started out to say. Cool beans!

In a very few words you've conveyed so very much. Thank you. I had about 150 words to start, and the cutting down was just daunting. Some of those pretty phrases in the first paragraph had to go (the ones those writing critics and other writers say that must go first!), but I found my way clear to keep in the ones that had the real meaning. Or so it seems. :)

[foxrafer]

This is such a strong and powerful piece.

But he had not reckoned with the pain of longing for the power of the One Ring.
This is such a fantastic line, a great way of describing the final loss of his determination. Great drabble.

[lanthirel]

Thank you; I'm so glad that you like it, and think so highly of it.

That line came to me late in the writing, but once it did, I realised that it said a lot. Or so I hoped.

[baranduin]

I like this a lot ... Frodo's resolution vs. the Ring's. Very powerful.

[lanthirel]

Thank you for reading and liking. I knew when I saw the prompt that I had to write about Frodo and the One Ring. There are many, many instances of resolution, of courage, of bravery throughout The Lord of the Rings, but it's Frodo's story and what he endured that I find the most compelling.

[kortirion]

You catch the moment very well - and show us the real danger of annihilation of the self that Galadriel and Gandalf knew was within the power of the Ring. Poor Frodo, they knew what he was pitted against and could only hope for him to find his inner resouces of strength - they could aid, but ultimately... If Gandalf realised Gollum had a final, vital, part to play - we shall never truly know

...then again ...authorial power = deus ex machina! ;p

[lanthirel]

*blushes* Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comments. :) the real danger of annihilation of the self This is something that I would find frightening in real life, just as I do in literature.

If Gandalf realised Gollum had a final, vital, part to play - we shall never truly know I like to think that Gandalf suspected, but did not truly know; however, his cautionary words to Frodo in the chapter "The Shadow of the Past" I find to be just as true in real life, about not being so quick to sit in judgement on others. Even one's enemies may yet do one a favour, though not meaning to.