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Birthday Surprises by Baggins Babe	7 Review(s)
Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/12/2007
I love, love, love this entire first section about love and guilt and all that. Yes, it was a false pride that infected Frodo. And the poor dear having to listen to the Ring tempt him with his parents returning to life. Also love about the Ring hitting a wall when it tried to reach into Sam! Indeed. Nothing was going to get past that armor of love. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Mirkwoodmaiden	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/9/2005
My dear BB! Another lovely chapter, my dear! All that mention of the very fine fare to be had in the Shire makes my homesick, indeed!! sigh " 'Remind me never to volunteer to carry something which Gandalf, assorted Elves and a future king won't touch with a ten foot pole!'" LOL!! I suppose that is very wise advice to self that Frodo should heed! With the children wanting to stay up you capture the feeling and memories of cozy evenings surrounded by friends, hearth and home so very well my dear! Lovely. Loved the descriptions of the Shirefolk meeting the Lords of Gondor and Eldar and how you draw the distinct difference between them and Sharkey's ruffians! Well done My dear! MM Author Reply: Ah yes, wouldn't it be nice to sit in a comfy chair at Bag End and eat Rose's cooking? No wonder the children wanted to stay up - who would want to waste time sleeping when the King is sitting in the parlour? I think the Shirefolk would soon have realised that there was a huge difference between the ruffians and the Men and Elves. And yes, that would be advice for Frodo to heed, definitely! :-))

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/15/2005
Again, a sweet chapter, especially the visit to the grave and reassuring Frodo. And of course Elanor and Frodo-lad would recognize Aragorn. Author Reply: I think Frodo would still have moments of guilt, but at least he can be reassured. No-one would come through everything he experienced and remain unscathed. I like to see Aragorn and Frodo together - they have a bond which nothing can break. The Gamgee children are very perceptive and I'm glad you agree that they would recognise the King.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/22/2005
A wonderful story, Baggins Babe! The talk between Aragorn and Frodo was very insightful. "It is not that Sam is stronger or better than you, but he had not been carrying it for months, listening to that insidious voice, and Sam lacks your imagination. He is an essentially practical hobbit with a large core of stern hobbit-sense inherited from his Gaffer. For the Ring it must have been like hitting a stone wall!" I often wondered, why it was so easy for Sam to resist the Ring. This is the answer: he has not Frodo's imagination - only stern hobbit-sense and a deep devotion to his master. And, of course, I'm still waiting for "Verse Seventy-One" ;-) "I wish I knew what happens in that verse," Faramir muttered - Me, too! Thank you! Author Reply: Hopefully you might find out about Verse Seventy One very soon, although I think you have more imagination then Sam, and can make a pretty good guess from the hints dropped in previous chapters! :-)) Glad you're enjoying it so far.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/22/2005
I had to go early today and get the car serviced, so I printed out this latest chapter to read while I waited. Such a lovely long chapter, and so very full of hobbity fun, and great interaction between Big Folk and Little. I loved the Flora-Dora twins--such cute little old hobbit ladies! So delightful to see how much everyone is happy to see the visitors. I also liked the beginning of the chapter. Yes, Frodo is healed, and he is rid of his abnormal guilt. Yet some guilt to remain, and show up from time to time is normal, and I am glad that you showed it. It would be unnatural for him to be completely rid of every bad feeling associated with the Quest, and would trivialize his part in it if there were no consequences at all. But at least the feelings he has now are natural, and able to be assuaged by the love and care of his friends, and he is able to recognize the folly of excessive guilt. Author Reply: How nice to pass the time reading while mechanics tinker with your car! I could just see flora and Dora, like a couple of chattering birds. Yes, I think even though he is healed, there would have been times when Frodo felt guilt, or had flashbacks of some sort, but at least this sort of thing can be dealt with and doesn't affect his health and sanity. Thank you for confriming what I've always thought.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/21/2005
Sorry I haven't reviewed since chapter one BB but I have just spent a very happy evening catching up. Reading with a lump in my throat, tears in my eyes and a grin on my face. Yes it is possible but makes reading a bit slow! Author Reply: I wondered where you were! Nice to have another review and glad you enjoyed playing 'catch-up.' Hope the lump in the throat, tears in the eyes and grin on the face don't slow things down too much! :-)) I wanted Frodo and Aragorn to have a little time alone. These two dear friends need each other, I think, and I like to give Frodo some reassurance that his friends love him.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/21/2005
This happy, joyous, loving story just continues to delight, BB. These are my favorite passages: "Sam, Merry and Pippin did conventionally heroic things. They fought enemies they could see. You were battling something unseen but it was able to probe your mind and affect you in ways their foes did not. You held out far longer than I would have done." * Aragorn threw back his head and laughed. "It could never imagine a loyalty like Sam's! I should imagine it grew more and more exasperated at the stubborn Gamgee character!" Frodo chuckled too, and wiped the last of his tears. "Dear Sam says that he may be 'Half-wise' but he is not going to do the bidding of a piece of jewellery! Only Sam could say such a thing." * "Indeed. Never deny us the chance to show you our love, my friend. I am overwhelmed that you have never uttered a word of reproach for the way we Big People handed you the task." Frodo looked at Aragorn, his expression a mixture of affection and wry humour. "You didn't 'hand me the task' - I volunteered for it if you remember. Remind me never to volunteer to carry something which Gandalf, assorted Elves and a future king won't touch with a ten foot pole!" He smiled. "Sorry for howling like that - being loved so unconditionally is disconcerting for me." *** Arod rolled on his back and rubbed his face in the sweet grass, much to Legolas' amusement, and after a moment's thought, Aragorn's great horse did the same, although he managed to look slightly bashful when he rose, as though he thought it was not a dignified thing for one of the Mearas to be doing. Wonderful. And now you've got me hungry for dinner! Author Reply: Ah, the delights of a hobbity supper! Who could possibly resist? I can see Bergil and Halboron wanting to move in to Bag End permanently! I'm pleased that you liked the scene between Frodo and Aragorn. I think there would still be moments when Frodo feels guilty, even though it no longer makes him ill. A total, 100% cure would be unrealistic, but I'm glad Aragorn was there to comfort him. I love seeing horses roll in grass - they look so carefree after a long day's riding - and the thought of a dignified Lord of the Mearas rolling about and then remembering his dignity was too funny. Now when will they learn the rest of the verses to 'Nineteen Nights........'?

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