Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Sound of the Sea  by Antane 7 Review(s)
Szepilona10Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/6/2008
Nice story!
God bless!

~Szepilona10~

Author Reply: Thank you! God bless you right back! *hug*

Namarie, Antane :)

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/25/2007
Oh, there's so much to love in this tale!

"Maybe a dragon dropped this one, Mama," he said about a polished green one that seemed to shine in the sunlight as though lit by a fire within. "Uncle
Bilbo told me about the dragon he had seen and how many jools he had had."

Primula smiled at her lad. "Maybe you’re right, my dearling."

The child put it carefully in the pocket of his breeches. "Maybe when Uncle takes me one of his adventures I can see a dragon and ask him if he dropped
it. Uncle talked to his dragon, you know."

"That is very considerate of you, my lad," Drogo said, "to be concerned whether it was lost or not. I’m sure the dragon would appreciate your thinking of
him."

Awww! LOL!

"How can the Sea be in there?" his son asked. "I shook it and no water came out."

"Only the sound is in there, love."

Ah, yes. I wonder how many times I asked the same question when I was around Frodo's age and found those marvelous shells on the beach. I wonder what the answer is even so. Probably something to do with echoes, but I like the idea of it being Elvish better. :)

"I’ve dreamt a lot of the Sea, Sam," Frodo confided at one time. "My ma told me I was born during a terrible storm and so I’ve heard water all my life.
I’d like to see it one day. Would you like to, Sam?"

"Not specially, but then if you went without me, I wouldn’t like that neither."

Frodo smiled and touched his friend’s shoulder. "I don’t think I would like it either, my Sam. Or to go without Merry or Pippin. Merry can swim just as
well as I can and Pippin will be learning soon I’m sure. I could teach you if you’d like."

"I don’t think my Gaffer would hold to that. He sees no purpose in learning nothing you can’t use and he don’t see much use for swimming. It’s only because
Mr. Bilbo was his master that he allowed me to learn my letters and he don’t see use for them neither."

"Well, then, my Sam," Frodo began and his tone and the glint in his eyes turned mischievous, "I suppose you could say, if you really wanted to learn, that
Bilbo suggested that too."

Sam looked uncomfortable. "I don’t think so, Mr. Frodo. I know you’ve been around it forever and can swim and all that, but I don’t think I’d like to get
my feet wet in more than a puddle or bath. But if you went, I’d go. I’d still follow you though, Mr. Frodo, anywhere."

*grins* I love this whole conversation.

Listen to the Sea, my Sam, my Merry, my Pippin, and may it bring you peace as it brought me. I will listen where I will be going and hear the same thing
you are now. We won’t really be apart. For if we can hear the Sea without seeing the water, we can hear and see each other without the sight of our eyes.

*sniff*

Truly lovely, Antane. And now I must go and read about this Visit with a Dragon!
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Hantanyel, ammelda! Glad you enjoyed Lord Ulmo's gift to our dear.

Namarie, God bless, Melinyel, Antane :)

Calenlass GreenleafReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/3/2007
I had tears in my eyes by the time I through reading. Fluffy yet inexplicably sad at the same time. It was a lovely story!

~Calenlass

Author Reply: Hannon le! Glad you enjoyed! :)

Namarie, God bless, Antane

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/3/2007
A lovely and gentle piece Antane. I loved the image of Sam trying to convince himself that Frodo's tears were the sea finally leaking out of the shell. But what happens to the green stone? Could it not eventually end up in Frodo's pocket to replace the ring? (This is not an original idea btw.) I am glad that you made it a green stone as this echoes the stone in Gilbo's song and links Frodo to Aragorn.

Author Reply: Hmmm...the green stone...well, I don't know but it's intriguing to think about. Maybe I'll have to do something about that since Elemmire wants to see more of it too. Hannon le, dear harrowcat for your kind words - always appreciated! :)

Namarie, God bless, Antane

ArmarielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/2/2007
Listen to the Sea, my Sam, my Merry, my Pippin, and may it bring you peace as it brought me. I will listen where I will be going and hear the same thing you are now. We won’t really be apart. For if we can hear the Sea without seeing the water, we can hear and see each other without the sight of our eyes.



A simple and pretty tale. The connection with "The Sea-bell" is nicely worked into it but the ending bittersweet instead of grim. And the child-Frodo is beautifully drawn here.

~~~{~@

Author Reply: Isn't he just so cute? :) Hannon le for enjoying it and him. Sorry I'm so behind on his letters to his Sam, so busy, but I will catch up one of these days!

Namarie, God bless, Antane

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/2/2007
A wonderful comfort for all of them to know, Antane. Thank you.

Author Reply: You are quite welcome! :)

Namarie, God bless, Antane

ElemmírëReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/2/2007
Hi Antane!

This was very sweet, yet sad at the end, but I enjoyed it muchly. :)

"That is very considerate of you, my lad," Drogo said, "to be concerned whether it was lost or not. I’m sure the dragon would appreciate your thinking of him."

LOL! Now there is a funny AU tale I'd like to imagine: young innocent Frodo standing before a great dragon, the green stone in hand, and sweetly asking the beast if he lost it. Somehow I think instead of Frodo being mesmerized by the dragon's eyes, it would be the other way around, for who could not get lost in those blue eyes of our favorite hobbit? Hmm, maybe Bilbo could imagine and write Frodo a tale to satisfy about how a young hobbit lad of his nephew's age and description finds such a green stone and embarks on an Adventure to return to the dragon who lost it? I think it would make a wonderful bedtime tale for him if he stayed overnight at Bag End perhaps, or a tale to hear whilst recovering from illness. (hint, hint)

Aww, little Frodo squishing his toes delightlyfully in the cool mud is too cute for words--as is serious Frodo cradling his prized possession all the way to Bag End so it would not break.

I also liked how even then Frodo confided in Sam and Sam promised to follow his master anywhere. It shows great use of foreshadowing of their future friendship together. And it was a very fitting ending that Frodo chose to leave his treasure behind with those he loved most, so that they would never be separated. For if we can hear the Sea without seeing the water, we can hear and see each other without the sight of our eyes.

Perhaps Ulmo, lord of all the waters in Middle-earth was the one who "placed" the seashell there in the Brandywine River for young Frodo to find, knowing it could serve as a comfort to him in future years.

*sighs happily in contentment at another wonderfully-written short*

Namarie,

~Elemmírë~

Author Reply: Hannon le, dear Elemmire - another long, marvelous, very kind review! You do give me some good ideas - we'll have to see about that. I love the idea of the dragon being mesmerized by Frodo's eyes :) and that Bilbo would make up the tale. Love also the idea that Iluvatar and Ulmo were looking after him. Always he was watched and loved and being prepared.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Return to Chapter List