[Leila]

The Tenth Member of the Fellowship

Generally these stories are simply more developed Mary-Sue fics; however, the tenth member can be male. Since female members are more common, I will discuss them more so.

The tenth member is most often a handmaiden of Arwen or Galadriel, though she can be a hobbit, perhaps one that has followed Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry. Like "Mary-Sue", she is a skilled fighter, very beautiful, etc. Because of her fighting skills she often is the saviour of the Fellowship, rescuing them all from a potentially lethal situation.

What most of the author’s of such fics don’t realise, is that there would never be a tenth member, be it male or female. The number nine has special significance. Elrond wanted nine to equal the number of the Nazgûl: the Nine Walkers to go against the Nine Riders. This number was decided upon before Merry and Pippin became a part of the Fellowship, when Elrond planned to send to people from his House in their place.

And once again, the idea that the Fellowship would need the help of a ‘tag-along’ to rescue them is stupid.


(taken from http://www.geocities.com/pippinsplayground/lotr_editorial.htm)

I read somewhere that Elrond had planned to send his sons, Elladan and Elrohir. At school so can't really do much in the lines of looking it up though.

[Leila]

Character and Place Names

Probably the most annoying thing about the movie-verse fics is the authors’ knowledge of character and place names. Two of the worst are probably the spelling of Saruman’s name, and Legolas’ place of origin. Many people seem to think that Saruman is actually called Sarumon, and hence, I have read more than one story, which likened him to a Digimon. ‘Rivendell’, ‘Elrond’ and ‘Merry’ are also commonly misspelt names (honestly! Merry is a male; so why do so many people think his name is Mary?).

And poor Legolas is once again a victim. Yes, the movie can be blamed for not saying where Legolas is rightly from, but still…Since Rivendell and Lothlórien are the two Elvish places which are shown, most people believe him to be from either of those two places. Well, the movie shows Legolas arrive at Rivendell, so he can’t be from there. And if he were from Lothlórien, why would the elves from there hold a bow to him? For anyone who does not know, Legolas is from Mirkwood (a forest on the other side of the Misty Mountains to Rivendell. It was once called Greenwood, but Sauron built a fortress in the south of the woods, and a shadow came over most of the forest). He is the prince of the Wood-Elves who live there.

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I'm going between this site and that page. I put up this part because of the comment on how people sometimes put Legolas as from Rivendell or Lothlórien. Even I know that isn't true!!! Some people!

[Leila]

Male-Male Relationship

These, too, existed before the movie, but, again, there are many more now. The most common couples are Frodo/Sam, Aragorn/Legolas, Aragorn/Boromir and Merry/Pippin. It is the cultural differences that have caused these sorts of fics. The relationships, in the time that Tolkien wrote the story, were not homosexual in any way. Frodo and Sam had a deep love for each other, but it was not a sexual attraction, romance or anything of the like. Frodo was Sam’s master, whom he loved and respected. To Frodo, Sam was his closest and most beloved friend. Merry and Pippin are even less likely. They are first cousins! (Merry’s mother was Pippin’s father’s younger sister). Not only is it unimaginable, I think it’s illegal! The relationship between Merry and Pippin is more a brother-like relationship. As for Aragorn and Legolas/Boromir; I don’t think that anything was ever "suggested". Aragorn was respected, as a leader and a member of the Fellowship. In turn, he respected the other members of the Fellowship, especially Boromir, with whom he felt a brother like bond (with them both being men of Gondor, noblemen at that). Once again, no sexual attraction or romance. I really don’t understand the reason for writing such fics.

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It left out the most common one of all (or at least this is the two I see paired up most), Legolas/Gimli.

[miriel361]

More to the number nine. Nine is three times three and three is one of the most sacred numbers. I agree that Tolkien thought long and hard about the number of walkers he would send.

And yes, I believe that Elrond did want to send his sons, but changed his mind to include the two hobbits instead.

[Roisin]

Also, the nine walkers mirror the nine riders: the Nazgul.

Roisin

[Roisin]

Oops, didn't read close enough. I see that was already stated.

Roisin