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A Small and Passing Thing  by Lindelea 6 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 64 on 4/23/2023
There is time yet, though. The grey ship is not yet sailed.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 64 on 9/3/2011
Freddy is right that it would be a torment for Frodo just to slip away without warning or explanation. I think that would be worse than the agony of watching him slip away slowly each day, but at least when the end comes, they would know it and eventually recover from it. Leaving them hanging without knowing what happened and not being there at the end would be worse for them. I hope Frodo realizes that and lets them all walk with him through what is come. They would want to do nothing less, that is what they went on the Quest for, and now with this new journey they would want to be by his side just as much. I'm glad at the least Freddy is there.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 64 on 11/10/2003
Now that I have a semblance of composure (it's pretty shaky though), I'm going to try to write a review with a little coherence to it.

So here Frodo explains why he feels he cannot ask Sam or Merry and Pippin to help him through the last pain. Hurray for Freddy vowing not to let him walk alone, even at cost to himself. We always knew Freddy had his own courage, and it's nice to see Frodo acknowledge it out loud.

From Freddy and Frodo's talk, I guess Frodo doesn't have much of a plan after all. He's come to this slow realization and acceptance, but he's not sure if Bilbo and the Elves have left, and he wasn't sure last year if he would have gone with them or not. So this year, now that the alternative is death, he will set out to Rivendell with Sam. He can't tell Sam any more than that, because he has no real idea if Elrond and Bilbo are still at Rivendell or not. Sam will not be planning to go all the way with him. Either there will be no one left when he arrives, and he will die there; or there will be Elves left, and he will ask for healing if it is possible, or accept the alternative if it is not; or as it turns out, he will meet them on the way to the Havens and leave with them. How does he get Freddy to agree to let him go, with only Sam accompanying: Sam unknowing of the truth and not planning on staying with him? Or does Freddy talk him into this last chance plan, as Frodo now seems to think he will be buried in the Shire?

Your writing is very beautiful here. I love the phrase "Each day was a golden coin in the treasure box of memory" which you've also used in other places. It perfectly describes the hobbits' love for the simple joys of life, grounded in what is truly important and thankful for the beauty and spirit surrounding them. You have written Frodo here with serenity and wisdom, which despite the sadness, is a wonderfully strong and tender portrait of a hero who has taken the ultimate life-lessons from his experiences. The description of the Shire from Frodo's rock is grand and beautiful yet homey and simple.

Well, I made it through the review, although it took three kleenexes. I sure hope you can pull something happy out of these next few chapters, though given what you have to work with it's unlikely. I'll just consider it practice toughening up of the tearducts in preparation for the December high-budget fanfiction extravaganza.

Tim the EnchanterReviewed Chapter: 64 on 11/9/2003
How sad, but at least Frodo has Freddy to talk with about this even if he wants to spare the other three travellers.

HaiReviewed Chapter: 64 on 11/9/2003
Oh, dear, all this sad talk of dying! I hope Frodo ad Freddy are able to lean on each other until the end. Very admirable of Frodo to not want to involve anyone else in his fight with the shadow, but how lonely! Looking forward to more, thank you!

Author Reply: Very sad and lonely, this was difficult to write. It is a struggle to figure out a happy ending to such a tale, when canon sets the conditions... Hopefully more will be posted on the morrow, though my editor says she won't have time to go over it until mid-week. Perhaps I ought to stamp it all over with "Warning: Draft"

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 64 on 11/9/2003
I've got tears dripping into my morning coffee. You are destroying me. I don't think I can even write anything right now.

Author Reply: Poor thing, I know it must be effective writing if this is the case... Am still trying to wrestle chapter 65 to the ground. Hope to post it on the morrow, if I don't run into a roadblock.

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