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In Darkness Buried Deep  by GamgeeFest 7 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/9/2005
Just catching up with this one. Gil sounds like a lot of adolescents I've had to deal with at one time or another.

Author Reply: Adolescents haven't changed much over the years, lol. Thanks for reading!

Isilhen DaegolReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/5/2005
Hmmm... An interesting start... You've done a good job with portraying Gil as an unlikeable character. And Frodo is sweet and smart as ever. OC's aren't a bad thing. Edon seems fairly nice. Good job... And I vote for the wind.

Author Reply: I would say wind also, as I did almost have a strong gust of wind knock me over once.

Gil is quite the bully here. His rivalry with Edon doesn't bring out the best in him. Edon can sympathize with Frodo, which is why he lets Frodo tag along. It helps that Frodo is a bit of a trouble maker, even if he is sweet and smart.

RenaissanceGrrlReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/5/2005
I think my favorite part thus far was the bit where it mentioned that Frodo thought of Merry as a brother. I think that relationship tends to get overlooked (even, admittedly, by me) in the light of the Frodo/Sam and Merry/Pippin friendships. (Well, okay, Merry and Pip are cousins, but you know what I mean.)

Frodo is so sweet and so smart. *fights fangirlishness and leaves a REAL review*

I can understand why you were nervous; it's a lot of OCs in a small amount of time, but you handled it very well--just enough characterization so that I'm interested, but not so much that it's difficult to keep track of who's who. I'm still unclear as to WHY there needs to be so many of them, but I'm sure that'll become obvious as the story unfolds. ^_^

Good beginning!

Author Reply: I've always thought that Frodo, Merry and Pippin think of themselves more as brothers than cousins, and have mentioned it in previous writings. Merry especially will grow up seeing Frodo as an older brother, which will make Frodo's leaving so hard for him.

The problem Frodo has is realizing his own worth and abilities. It's a problem that will plague him the rest of his life, but especially now at this time, when he's in such a vulnerable state.

I'm glad this chapter didn't give you OC-overload, lol. As to why there has to be OCs, it's the same reason I stated in the prologue. A glance at the Brandybuck family tree shows that there aren't any other children close to Frodo's age. The younger ones either haven't been born yet or are toddlers and infants. The older ones, Frodo would see more as authority figures, since they are all past their coming of age. As such, Frodo wouldn't be friends with them. Hence, the need for OCs. ^_^

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/2/2005
Gil isn't winning many points with me, however impressed Fuchsia is. He appears an arrogant bully boy. Frodo was remarkably brave to stand up to him - but he might have taken on a bit more than he can chew at the moment.

This is a really interesting start - I look forward to seeing more of Frodo at a very delicate time in his development.

Author Reply: Gil isn't seen in his best light here. First impressions are hard to recover from.

Frodo has always been one to come to a friend's defense, usually without much thought to himself. He paid for his interference here and that will make him think twice in the future.

The next chapter will be have a lot more Frodo in it, and will be posted shortly. :) I'm glad you're enjoying this so far. Thanks for reading!

TheHobbitWaffleReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/1/2005
I love it! Oh! Oh! Oh!

Poor Frodo. Standing up to Gil, and getting his fears rubbed in face. If I was there, Gil wouldn't have been so cocky! Though really I have the weakest punch ever and the most I could do to anyone is sit on them...

You are so amazingly talented, I can only hope that one day I'm as good as you. And I swear, I am not sucking up to you. *Bows at the alter of Gamgeefest*

Author Reply: Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. :)

Frodo isn't the type to let a friend be picked on, even when he was so young. Gil wasn't very graceful about the interruption, but considering Edon's presence, it is perhaps understandable why he acted the way he did.

*hugs TheHobbitWaffle*

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/1/2005
This is a very interesting beginning. I hope it will turn into something very long and exciting...like "A Tale that Grew in the Telling".

So, I take it that Gil's going to egg Frodo on til he goes in, or has Frodo already decided he wants to, and is simply biding his chance?

Guess I'll have to stay tuned...

Author Reply: Oh dear! This story *did* get away from me, but not *that* much. "A Tale" continues to hold the record of Biggest Runaway Plot, lol. This story is one half of a before/after series, so when you add in the follow up story, it comes out to about 2/3 of "A Tale"'s length, chapter-wise.

I'm glad you find this interesting. Without giving away too much, Gil and Edon will both have a hand to play in the events to follow. It will be awhile yet before Frodo disappears though.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/1/2005
Good first chapter. I can see Frodo as the sort who goes about with older lads much like Pippin does later. I liked the way that Frodo stood up Gil and called him on his lies in defense of his friend. I wonder where Frodo was really supposed to be while he was at the races? Looking forward to more.

Author Reply: Unlike Pippin, who pursues the older lads until he badgers them into letting him tag along, Frodo typically just finds himself suddenly in there company. He is a bit reckless and that sometimes works to his advantage, and it sometimes doesn't.

Unbeknownst to Frodo, everyone knew Gil was lying. Old Forest stories are the Shire equivalent of urban legends. Gil wasn't the first to tell that story and he won't be the last! Had Frodo been in the company of anyone else, Gil wouldn't have even given him the time of day.

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