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West of the Moon, East of the Sun  by Armariel 44 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/15/2007
So passes the two great lights of Middle-earth and the West. Of course Frodo would be there to meet him at the top of the stairs. That's a lovely image - reaching Heaven that way. Nothing wrong with embracing chastity - it would be nice if more did, at least until they married and for love. But Sam has his head on straight as far as the other stuff goes, knowing the difference between having sex which he never did in his life and making love which he knew quite well. God bless them.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Yes, I'll miss writing this universe! I'm feeling a little like when I watched RotK in the theater for the last time......or did I mention that already? Or like I imagine the cast and crew members must have felt like when it was all over and done with....NOW what??

Actually what Sam meant was that he thought people weren't meant to embrace chastity for life. I figured that to a down-to-earth hobbit that would be a totally foreign concept, unnatural and just a bit silly. And to one who has been married a long time and fathered 13 children it would be just slightly unthinkable. To a female maybe it's a whole different matter, especially in an era where birth control hadn't been invented yet. One might well be afraid of life, considering all that it entails and all the risks involved. There's no guarantee that everything is going to be all peachy. But the only alternative would be to stand on the sidelines and watch others, or to die young. Sam, being a "natural man" of sorts, opted for life.

Thanks so much for your support and feedback, Dearie--means a great deal to me!

blessings & cheer
Armariel
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NeiliaReviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/15/2007
*Sigh* This is the end chapter of a most beautiful story. It compliments and completes your others perfectly. Thank you so much.

Author Reply: And thank YOU for your lovely comments, Neilia. I've greatly enjoyed my time in this universe and will miss writing in it....I've a new story in the offing but it's completely different and unrelated!

Thanks again!

hugs
Armariel
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NeiliaReviewed Chapter: 999999 on 11/15/2007
Thank you for this list. Sure makes it easier to track everyone.

Author Reply: You're welcome! It helped me in the beginning to keep straight which kid went to what family and so forth, so that I wasn't just having to throw out random names and then try to remember who belonged to whom later on. I read that every writer should do this, and found it to be sound advice.

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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 23 on 11/14/2007
And so it is that peace has taken the three of them, singly, yet not alone, not any of them.

May the joy of having known them continue to bless all who did so until the second breaking of the world, as they realize no time at all has passed since they saw them last.

Thank you, Armariel, and may roses bloom ever for you.

Author Reply: Awwww what a sweet thing to say *blush*

Now it's all over and done with...I feel a little like when I saw RotK in the theater for the last time, I was like, NOW what??? I will soooo miss this universe! I've another story in the offing but it's entirely different. Oh well, life does go on....

Thanks so much Larner for R&R! Your comments mean a lot to me. May fragrant violets spring from your footsteps:):):):)

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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 22 on 11/12/2007
Yes, tear-drops as gems, gems as tear-drops, and a life finally receives its last shaping stroke, last polishing; rings its last note, and is complete and whole and fully individual.

A pleasure of the most aching kind for them all. But it will not be long--it never is, no matter how long it takes.

Beautiful imagery.

Author Reply: Yes...his time is done, his work is finished, and he has left his mark on his world...now it remains for Sam and Anemone to follow....

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

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AntaneReviewed Chapter: 22 on 11/12/2007
So he has become the glass filled with clear light that Gandalf foresaw at Rivendell. It's bittersweet, but much more sweet than bitter - I should have known you would give him a beautiful death since I can't really imagine him having anything other and he is in the middle with his two treasures - and surrounded at the picnic by all others so dear - how very generous that his beloved wife would even now be willing to allow Sam the last moments alone with their joint dearest one and how wonderful that he is spending it with both of them. This is another thing that entering Middle-earth has taught me - that death is not to be feared but embraced joyfully. Frodo's description of the world beyond sounds wonderful and I love his teasing of Sam being a slowpoke and his saying he'll be there waiting. I'm surprised that Sam's heart can take another parting but by now he'll know that Frodo's always going to be with him no matter what. I look forward - can you imagine me saying that after all my protest that our dear can't die - to next chapter because of how beautiful this one has been. Hantanyel!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Sam's heart can well take the parting since he knows it will not be so long until they will be reunited never to part again. His job is now to help the others who will not follow, at least not soon...and when his own time comes he'll be only too glad to go.

But what am *I* going to do now? Oh, I do have another story in the offing but it's entirely unrelated to this one...I am soooo gonna miss this universe!!! *sniff*

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing--your comments mean a lot to me!

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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/11/2007
Yes, for Frodo it will come gently; and he will not go alone and unnoticed, but surrounded by the greatest of love and prayers, and will shine from his Father's arms as he looks back in thanksgiving and delight, prepared to welcome those who follow after.

And in that timelessness he will never feel parted from them.

Author Reply: And so the light will not go out as some feared. They will keep it going for his sake and for their own.....

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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 20 on 11/11/2007
He feels it coming and is ready, and wishes now to follow Bilbo, even in his footsteps, apparently. The time is right, and he is ready; now, for the rest to allow him to give over in joy, to know the grief at the loss and the delight at the time they were allowed to know him.

Author Reply: Yes, I was certain he would want to go out like Bilbo and have all his friends and loved ones gathered together one last time so that he might steep himself in their love and esteem before taking his final leave of them. And he'll want to see them making merry and having a good time...and maybe even take care of a few loose ends...

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AntaneReviewed Chapter: 20 on 11/10/2007
Love that extra stanza/addition to the song. I think as much as Sam loves having Frodo 'all to himself' that maybe Frodo should now start sleeping in the middle of his treasures because time is so short. How loving of his dear wife to still give Sam the gift of those nights alone, though. Oh, don't die! Or all of them die at once or something. Dear me, how hard it's going to be.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: The bed might get rather crowded;) but at any rate they're taking turns and they're all together in the daytime. And will make the most of the time they have left. Yes, I did consider having them all three go at once, but thought better of it...it will be hard enough for the others losing one, let alone three of their loved ones all at once. There should be some to remain behind to comfort the others, as the second stanza expresses.

But yes, very hard! For those who will be left behind, recovery from grief is never an easy road, even when they know their beloved will be in good hands.

hugs
Armariel
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AntaneReviewed Chapter: 21 on 11/10/2007
I don't want it to come at all, but yes, please gently, as a mother would lift her child - or a Father his. Love the idea of him at his prayer-rock and connecting with his Father there. Oh, this isn't going to be easy for anyone, is it? But what a nice tribute to a beloved husband. Is Sam going to write his own I wonder or will he follow as he always has? No need to answer yet, but just with the next chapter.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: All I can say is...we'll see:) Glad you like the poem. Got a bit teary as it was dictated to me by the spirit of Anemone;)

hugs
Armariel
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