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A Tale That Grew in the Telling  by GamgeeFest 3 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 23 on 4/20/2006
 I thought of waiting till the end to review again, but I can't, or I'll miss something. I feel I must compliment you on how very well this is worked out.
I'm impressed! Even while my head is spinning and I feel as if my heart would burst to bits with anxiety. Imagine. I'm a hopeless case of melodrama. :)

Oh, poor Sam! His frantic listing of all the clues to when Frodo was upset made me ache for him. He knows his master better almost than anyone, and I can
certainly identify with the guilt. I know it wasn't his fault, but I'd do and say the same things in his place. Part of me is shouting that Frodo needed
him, and the other, more reasonable part whispers, "Would anything be any different?"

And if it isn't enough that I'm so...how shall I say, extremely anxious even when I know the end must be happy, I find myself grieving with the cousins.
And I know Frodo's alive!

I'm almost angry with Frodo Baggins right now. I pity him for the Ring-madness-he couldn't help that and I hate that thing so much! And certainly he didn't
mean to fall into the river. But to go and intend to go to Rivendell! It's rash and thoughtless! I could lecture him at this moment-"Frodo! What are you
thinking of? What about those who love you, who are grieving and worrying for you, who think you dead?" Of course he doesn't know they think that, but
come on! *sighs heavily* But surely he'll come to his senses just in time; he is no fool, after all and he does have a heart and is one of the five dearest
Hobbits in all the Shire.

I love Berwin! He's such a wonderful OC! I was unsure at first, since the Rangers distrusted him, but if he cares for Frodo, or any of the Hobbits for that
matter, he's won me. :)

Goodness, what a mess. Frodo in Bree, doing something I can't believe he's doing; Merry and Pippin and the rest of the family grieving; Sam worried and soon to be grieving as well. And yet in the midst of it all, romance is blooming, and glad memories are made.

It takes a very good story to get me so enthralled, and it has to be very real for me to feel as if I'm the one experiencing all this. And even while it can be a bit exhausting to vibrate so between such different emotions :), I love the feeling. Thank you so much for this wonderful story!
God bless,
Galadriel

P.S. Also, when I get so caught up, I tend to be rather forceful, as others could very likely tell you. I hope I'm not *too* forceful, but I admit to yearning to rouse such force of feeling in my own readers. :)

Author Reply: You're not forceful at all. I love getting your reviews and I have to admit, they're making me appreciate this story all over again. Everything you're feeling while reading it is everything I was going through while writing it. This story changed on me so many times and in so many unexpected ways that I'm still surprised to this day that I not only finished it, but actually managed to make it work!

Sam is the most heartbreaking hobbit in this story. He's so far removed from everyone else and is at the mercy of the speed of gossip to find out what is going on. He has nothing to do with him time but think of all the clues he missed and blame himself. Merry and Pippin aren't doing any better and things will get worse before they improve.

Frodo's not thinking very clearly at this moment but he does realize that he can't just leave without sending some sort of word back to his family. All he can see right now is how much closer he is to finding Bilbo and now he has the opportunity to follow after him unhindered.

Berwin is a good guy and always had been. I don't think I ever considered him being anything but an unexpected friend. I did know that Berwin needed to find him first, for anyone else that came along would either be too late or have ill intentions. It was simply meant to be that they would find each other.

Things are a mess and will be getting messier, but life moves on. No matter what else happens, life moves on. The rebuilding of the Shire, Marigold and Tom's promise (and to a lesser degree, May and her beau's upcoming nuptials) personify that perfectly.

I'm so glad you're enjoying the story and thank you again for your lovely reviews!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 23 on 10/8/2004
Got so into reading that I think I forgot to review a couple of the chapters. Now, I am all caught up and waiting for more. I feel so sorry for Merry and Pippin. I know that they need to get out, but Saradoc seems to be pushing things. Also, I am a bit worried about his letter to Sam. Since he said that about how Sam "knows his place" I doubt he took Sam's feelings into consideration on this one. I wonder if Frodo will hear of his own "untimely death" and decide to stay at least long enough to set everyone straight or if the ring will do more damage. This is all very interesting and very enjoyable. Can't wait for more.

Author Reply: Saradoc isn’t thinking very clearly himself right now either. He also has memories of the last time an untimely death occurred, and that’s clouding his judgment a bit. Don’t worry too much about his letter to Sam, that comment was more for foreshadowing than anything else.

Unfortunately, there’s no way for Frodo to hear about any of this via the rumor mill, but there is another way for him to be alerted about the troubles in the Shire. The ring has done its damage quite nicely, hasn't it?

Thank you for all your wonderful comments. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 23 on 10/6/2004
Oh, your description of Merry's and Pippin's grief just put a lump in my throat and a knot in my stomach. I wanted to just reach into the story and shake them and tell them he was all right! Wonderful job!

Author Reply: Thank you! I almost feel like a culprit putting these guys through all this angst, but there is a method to this madness. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the story.

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