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Outtakes of a Fellowship and Beyond  by Kara's Aunty 6 Review(s)
6336Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/16/2010
Ah, Samwise and his plain Hobbit sense!
'Samwise of the One Ear and the Infant of Doom', love it!
Lynda (one L)

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/5/2009
“Now, now, lass. You don’t think the Valar let all the different races of Middle Earth mix with each other, be friends - and sometimes family - just to tear us apart forever at the end of all things?” Sam asked.

Beautifully said! Sam is a wise one, indeed and the best father one could wish for!

... before the minstrels of Gondor start singing a lay about Samwise of the One Ear and the Infant of Doom.

LOL!!! Now *that* would be an interesting song to listen to :)

Author Reply: Hello Andrea,

he is a wise wee soul, isn't he *hugs Sam ferociously*.
I didn't realise people would be so tickled by the idea of a lay to one-eared Sam! Looks like I may have to write it at some point...

Thanks (as always) for R & R-ing,

M ;)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
Now, that would be one song I'd PAY to hear! Hilarious!

And the hope he offers her is so right! Lovely!

My memorial is out front, and yours is an ivory statue in the gardens. Either way, it's only right Frodo's image be close at hand for those who live in the King's abode.

Author Reply: Hello Larner,

Sam would probably pay not to hear it (which is just as well, 'cos I'm too busy to write it)! The statue is a smaller version of the no doubt laeger memorial to Frodo and the hobbits on the top level. I just imagined Aragorn would have another one in a more secluded area he and immediate friends could visit for personal reflection. It's also a nice spot for visiting hobbits to go and chat to 'Uncle' Frodo! I also liked the idea of Sam offering Arwen hope at seeing her parents again by it, because it always struck me as a pity that she thought she'd never see them again.

I'm glad you enjoyed!

Thanks for R & R-ing,

M ;)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
Another story! Had to pounce right on it when I saw the word 'Sam' and your's too, of course! :) I have no idea where Sam learned all this theology, but good for him to be there to comfort Arwen and to even call her 'lass' :) I think one of the great tragedies is that when Aragorn at his death is trying to comfort her with his hope, trust and faith that they would meet again after death, that she would not be able to take any solace from such words since her Elven upbringing would give her no reference that she could hold onto. I love that Sam was able to give her some hope here for it would be sad indeed to have no hope of ever seeing one's beloveds again. I had a friend in high school whose father died suddenly and she had no hope of seeing him again and that would have made the pain all the more worse for her. The world is not going to last forever and when it finally passes away, then one would hope the Elves would pass onto Heaven and there would Arwen and Aragorn be to welcome them home at last.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Hello Antane,

Sam the theologist does seem a bit odd doesn't it? But I like to think that, admirer of all things elvish that he is, even our dear Sam can still offer the learned immortals a nugget of wisdom. For him (I imagined) Eru Iluvatar would not bless the various races of M.E. with each others' presence if he did not intend to unite them after death, for to do so would be nothing less than cruelty. It seems like plain Hobbit sense to him and he's happy to share it with her, especially as it will offer his friend comfort.

It's always sad to hear about the passing of a loved one and I hope your high school friend has come to terms with her father's death. I like to think that I'll see my grandmother again one day. The human spirit (IMHO) possesses too much energy to simply vanish out of existence when the body fails, and I know that God has bigger plans for us than mere death. Hopefully, we'll all be reunited (on the right side of the pearly gates).

Gosh, that sounds flippant doesn't it? It's not meant to be, though. It seems I express myself better in the midst of a story than I am able to in real life. Oh, well...

Thanks for R & R-ing m'dear,

M ;)

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
This is absolutely lovely. Scenes between Sam and Arwen are rare treasures.

You don’t think the Valar let all the different races of Middle Earth mix with each other, be friends - and sometimes family - just to tear us apart forever at the end of all things?

Long live plain hobbit sense. And Sam calling her 'lass', and her feelings 'wobbly'... just wonderful. What a delightful story.

Author Reply: Hello shirebound,

what lovely words you left in your review! You're right about the lack of Sam and Arwen scenes, though. A shame somehow, isn't it? Which was what moved me to write this fic, as a sort of sequel to the Rosie/Aragorn one I did a while ago. All the Elves always seem to be comforting miserable mortals at some point in their lives, so it seemed only fair to let one of the Firstborn be comforted by them for a change. And Sam is so full of plain hobbit sense that he seemed the ideal choice to give the woeful elleth something new to think about - or a new perspective on an old belief.

I love hobbit/elf stories. Come to that, I love hobbit/Men stories too. Actually, I love hobbit/anyone stories! You can't really go far wrong with a bit of hobbit sense, or a dash of cheeky hobbit humour!

Thank you so very much for R & R-ing and saying such lovely things, you have made me a very happy lass! (That's Scots lass, not hobbit. Sam stole that word from me...)

M ;)


DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
Oh this is so very lovely and insightful! Sam is such a font of wisdom--and this pairs so nicely with the story you did with Rose comforting Elessar about his mother.

You painted such a wonderful picture of the garden, I could just see it. And even at so young an age, Tolman is full of personaltiy!

Very well done!

Author Reply: Hello Dreamflower,

wow, that was a fast review! I only posted half an hour ago *beams with delight*.

I had thought about whether or not I should post this as an individual fic, as sort of sequel to the Rosie/Aragorn tale, but somehow decided against it. I couldn't resist the opportunity to make use of baby-Tolman-in-Gondor again though. A Hobbit infant in a city of Big Folk is such an irresistible idea!

Arwen always comes across as such a strong, confident woman. Even after she parted from her father, there is no canon reference (that I've found) to her suffering at his loss between that time and Aragorn's death, But the time thereafter, when she wandered the decaying land of her grandmother before dying, must have been filled with thoughts of her parents too as she realised the true cost of her choice, and it seemed only fair to open her eyes to the possibility of reunion. I completely believe what Sam said about the Valar uniting all the Children of Iluvatar after death; how could they not? So this tale lets her believe in it too, and my dear Sam was the right one to give her that hope.

Thanks for the lovely comments on the garden. Spring is in the air all over just now and it reminded of the resident magpies outside my place of work - they're always hopping between the bushes looking for sticks and grubs!

Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear,

M ;)

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