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In the Bleak, Cold Winter by GamgeeFest	11 Review(s)
Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/26/2006
I loved this bit. (“Would I lie to you?” “Yes.” Frodo strummed his fingers on the table and pretended to weigh this option before nodding. “All right. You have a deal.” They reached across the table and shook on it. ) So very like both of them and I did enjoy the wheeling and dealing. I'm glad Sam made it inside and that they are taking care of him. You know, sometimes he is actually stubborn enough to be a Baggins. LOL Author Reply: Frodo's sweet and innocent act might work on other hobbits, but Merry knows better! ;) Let's just hope that they don't forget their deal in all the excitement over Sam. I think that the Gamgees have the Bagginses beat on stubbornness. At least, it's safe to say that it's a draw!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/12/2006
Poor, dear Sam. So often in trying to spare others we DO hurt them unwittingly, and he's managed to do so. Author Reply: Yes he has. His only thought was to keep Frodo from possibly getting hurt or cold himself. He didn't think what it would have been like for Frodo to discover that Sam has been injured all this time while Frodo was inside, warm, cozy and eating to his content. He won't be making that same mistake again, not after such a lecture.

Ami	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/12/2006
Like all your stories, this one is incredibly well done. I love your detail. I feel so sorry for Sam, but at the same time he also needs to start breaking the same class mentality that he accuses Merry of. I love your descriptions, and I am looking forward to see where this story goes. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Ami! I'm glad you're enjoying all the details and the story. It's been fun for me to get back to writing a longer story. I nearly forgot how involved they can get! Sam is rather guilty of a double-standard, but it's not entirely his fault. He's just so used to Frodo not making a big deal of the class difference (and Pippin also usually ignores it with ease) that it throws him when Merry clearly is making an effort not to let it get in the way. Sam doesn't even realize how his own behavior makes Merry feel that it is something that needs to be taken into consideration. That class mentality won't really go away for Sam until after the Quest but Merry will soon figure out a way to deal with it. Next chapter has been posted. I hope you enjoy it!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/11/2006
There are times when Sam's 'umble gardenerishness becomes rather arrogant in a real inverted snobbery way. I'm not surprised Frodo was upset - did Sam really think that scraping his corpse off the back step would be better than asking for help? And I daresay Frodo is extra-worried since Sam was actually in rather a bad way, there - it took a lot of work to warm him up. I did enjoy Merry's negotiations for cinnamon rolls. It's doubtless good for him to spend time with Frodo - he is very much the Master's son in the eyes of the Brandybucks and he could have become a bit over-arrogant without Frodo and Pippin. Author Reply: Gardenerishness? I love that! Sam can be incredibly arrogant/stubborn at times, and usually at the worst times! He's so used to taking care of things on his own, and so set on keeping his place, that he just cannot contemplate asking for help from his 'betters' and certainly not if it's something he can handle himself. He's just as guilty as Merry when it comes to letting class difference get in the way. You're right about Frodo. Had the situation not been so dire, he would not have been so upset. There's more than just Sam's untimely pride at work here but Sam certainly did need that tongue-lashing. LOL Frodo's always more than willing to take Merry down a peg or two when he thinks Merry's head has grown too big for his shoulders. And when Pippin isn't following him around like he's the sun, he never hesitates to point out when Merry does something foolish.

Althea	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/10/2006
I want you to know how much I enjoyed reading this. It's terribly hot here, but while I was reading, I was trasported into your snowy scenes and actually found myself shivering when reading of Sam knee-walking through the snow. It's very interesting watching Merry and Sam finding their way with each other. It looks as if they might be on the path to re-establishing friendhsip. Right now it seems as if Frodo and Sam may have some patching up to do. I'm kind of worried right now about Marigold and the Gaffer. I guess they will assume that Sam is spending the night at Bag End due to the weather, but they are going to miss out on Frodo's wonderful chicken dinner. I got hungry just reading about it. I'm looking forward to more chapters. Author Reply: LOL We were going through a monster heat wave when I wrote this a couple of weeks ago. It was between 100-115F every day (plus 100%+ humidity) while I was writing this. Now that it's cooled off to a tepid 85-90F (and about 50% humidity), I'm getting more into the snowy weather spirit! ;) Well, at least writing about snowy weather. I wouldn't want to actually be in snow. I'll leave that up to Sam. ;) Don't worry too much about Frodo and Sam. Their little tiff won't last too long. And don't worry about Marigold and the Gaffer either. Once they realize that Sam won't be coming home, they'll find something to eat in their larders, though it probably won't be as good as that rosemary chicken. Sam and Merry still have a way to go, but this little accident will wind up helping them in ways that neither imagined. :D Thanks so much for reading!! I'm so glad you're enjoying this!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/10/2006
For a moment, Frodo said nothing and made no movement. Then he half-turned, so that Sam could see him only in profile and he looked as miserable as Sam felt. “But you did hurt me Sam.” He left before Sam could respond. Sam groaned and slammed his head back into the pillow. It was moments like this that he earned his name ten-fold. Great chapter, GamgeeFest! I think, the problem is that both, Frodo and Sam are very stubborn - but in different ways! Sam stubbornly insists on being the gardener, the servant, not wanting his master to get into any trouble because of him. And Frodo stubbornly denies it all! It was indeed wise of Merry to leave them alone. And maybe Merry is the one to break the tension ... I'm looking forward to reading more :) Author Reply: Let's face it, all three of them are stubborn! lol It's a wonder they get along as often and as well as they do! ;) Stubbornness is Frodo and Sam's biggest problem though. You are exactly right. Sam is so used to being subservient and playing the servant that he doesn't even realize that he's doing it. Frodo has another reason for erupting the way he did, that we will discover in the next chapter. As for Merry, stubbornness is the least of his sins lol. Merry was equally protecting himself by bolting and allowing Sam some privacy in his scolding. It's bad enough getting lectured by someone you admire, but to have an audience during it is nealry unbearable, especially for someone like Sam, who thinks that just having someone look at him cross means he's in trouble. I'm so glad that you are enjoying this!!

cookiefleck	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/10/2006
Poor freezing-and-in-pain Sam! While I understand Frodo's anger/hurt), I think he was a bit selfish in expressing his feelings before Sam was feeling better. Now he's added guilt to Sam's woes. Merry was wise/tactful to absent the room. Good chapter, thank you. Author Reply: Sam isn't having a very happy time right now, is he? Frodo could have picked a better time to scold Sam, it's true, but it will all work out for the best later. Frodo's feeling rather guilty himself right now for losing his temper. Besides, it wasn't so much Frodo's fault as it was the mean author's who needed the arguement for plot reasons. ~_^ Merry can never stand to see his cousin glaring at anyone, even when it's not him! He also knew that Sam wouldn't be feeling bad enough for being scolded. Having an audience during it would only make him that much more embarrassed. Thanks for reading!!

rabidsamfan	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/10/2006
YES! Er... uhm... oh, Very nicely done. Sam deserved that chewing out, didn't he? And I don't blame Merry one bit for ducking, either. Again, your details are marvelous. All the food makes me hungry, and you describe Sam's cold injuries so well that I want to start shivering. Thank you! Author Reply: LOL. Yes, Sam definitely deserved to be berated for acting so foolishly. He needs to be reminded from time to time that he can rely on his master just as Frodo relies on him for things. Especially in the middle of a blizzard! Merry's no fool. He can never stand up to his cousin's glares, whether they are directed at him or not. He also knew that Sam wouldn't want an audience. And the back door did need to be closed. ;) I think we should all have a hobbit to cook for us. True, we might be wider, but we'll be happier too. :D I'm glad all the little details helped bring the story to life! Thank you for reading!!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/10/2006
What a perfect chapter! From Sam's thoughts as he tried to get up to Bag End, to Merry's and Frodo's banter and on through the rescue--beautifully done! But Frodo's anger at Sam over Sam's not calling out was the best part. Here is a reminder that he is older, and in authority, even if it is a friendship--his sternness and disappointment was so exactly right. And Sam's reactions, were, well, so very Sam! Author Reply: Hobbit banter during times of crisis can be so arbitrary. It's alway fun thinking up what they might talk about to keep themselves from panicking. They really could have gone off an a tangent with that whole predictable-undpredictable debate. Thankfully, Frodo nipped it in the bud before it could get out of control. LOL! I was worried about that argument. I almost wanted to take it out, or at least make it less intense, but I needed it there for later chapters. I'm glad you felt it was justified, or at least appropriate. Frodo is older and in authority, and it's those exact reasons that Sam didn't automatically call out. Sam might begrudge Merry for not being able to see past the class difference, but Sam does it too. It's just so much a second skin to him that he doesn't realize he's doing it, to the point where he might actually even deny it.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/10/2006
When in a hole, especially one of your own making, stop digging Sam! Oh poor Sam. It is so easy to hurt the ones we love by trying to spare them trouble and by being too independent! Author Reply: Well, Sam would have liked to stop digging, but Merry and Frodo kept asking him questions and he couldn't not answer! ;) He might have been able to find a better way of explaining himself, but it all would have ended in the same result. But just as Merry and Frodo aren't used to Sam being injured, neither is Sam. He's not accustomed to having to seek assistance and not being able to do for himself. He really didn't think it would take him that long to get to the door. Thank you for reading!!

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