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| A Tale That Grew in the Telling by GamgeeFest | 105 Review(s) |
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| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/22/2004 |
| Finally! Finally Frodo is home where he belongs! I loved this chapter. As you well know the dynamic between the cousins is one of my very favorite things to explore, and I love the way you have done that in this story. This chapter in particular, with Frodo and Merry having their conversation, Merry finally coming to realize a little of the grief Frodo must have been living in since his parent's loss, and then Merry's and Pippin's little talk afterwards, was absolutely spot on. I like the way Jolly was able to live up to his name, and cheer Sam up a bit, and I hope that they are now able to confirm the suspicion that Lotho is the one who beat up Sam. The Gaffer is in for the shock of his life. Sam? I wonder. Hope that you update soon--I'm eager to see his reaction. Is he even going to believe it when he sees his Mr. Frodo? Author Reply: Thank you! Merry has gained a whole new level of respect for Frodo after this. Now that he understands how difficult grief can be, he will not only understand the way Frodo acted throughout so much of their youth together, but he will also be able to appreciate just how strong and resilient Frodo is. It's difficult enough for someone like Merry to apologize. Add onto that a devious Took who won't let him do it and you get a very frustrated Merry. :) But for all their teasing, they respect each other deeply. I doubt Jolly would say anything to Gaffer about his suspicions. He would expect Tom to do the talking, but Tom would need some proof before pointing fingers, especially at one of the gentry. Gaffer is in for quite a shock isn't he? ;) | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/20/2004 |
| Horray! Frodo is going to Sam now. I hope he's in time before Sam does something foolish in his grief. I enjoyed the little talk that Merry had with Frodo and then the other one where Merry tried to appologize to Pippin. That conversation was priceless. I look forward to poor Sam finding out that his Frodo is alive. More soon I hope. Great story! Author Reply: Sam's pretty well knocked out at this point, thanks to the healer's medicine. He'll wake up to quite a shock though, won't he? ;) Merry's still trying to make sense of things. This was his first experience with 'death' even if in the end it turned out to be a huge misunderstanding. He has a new appreciation now for what Frodo went through. And of course, you can always rely on Pippin and Merry to lighten the mood. I'm not often in the position where I have to apologize to people, but it doesn't make it easy when the other person won't let you get a word in edgewise. Merry of course has plenty of practice in this area, but even he can get frustrated by it, though as Pippin said, that's part of the fun. Thanks for reading! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/20/2004 |
| Wake up, Sam! Quick!! This is wonderful, btw: "And then there was you. You came and I was part of a family again." Author Reply: The reunion is almost here! Poor Sam has been through so much, Frodo will hardly recognize him, both in appearance and behavior. It will take Sam a little while to realize what's going on. Merry's birth would have given Frodo some sense of security. Frodo finally had something he could do to contribute and help with the household by taking care of Merry. He had the role of big brother now, rather than just being - in his mind at least - a burden to his aunt and uncle. Thanks for reading! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 33 on 11/20/2004 |
| Thank goodness. Sam is in desperate need of seeing Frodo - but I think he'll be in so much shock he won't know what to do with himself. Good to see Merry and Pippin getting over their stresses - and Frodo's description of how Merry's birth was the only thing to pull himself out of despair was lovely. Author Reply: You're right about the shock. Sam's not exactly going to react as Frodo would expect, not at first. Pippin can never stay mad at his Merry for very long, but he does enjoy hearing his friend's apologies. Frodo was very much adrift before Merry came. He was thrust into his aunt and uncle's home and care, and never really felt like he belonged. Merry's birth really could have made that feeling even more poignant, and I'm sure it did to some extent, but at the same time, Frodo now had someone to turn to who didn't know how things were before. As far as Merry would have been concerned, Frodo had always been a part of the family and belonged there with them. Esmeralda would have encouraged Frodo to look after Merry because of this. Thanks for reading. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 11/18/2004 |
| You know I'm following this one closely. Please continue! Too bad Hamfast isn't believing the new story. Author Reply: Hamfast won't be able to deny the truth much longer, and he'll be having to eat his words to Goodheart. Thanks for reading! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 11/18/2004 |
| How lovely! As eager as I am for Frodo to return, I am glad you had this chapter. It's so seldom that *Sam* gets a bit of well deserved comfort. So lovely to see his sisters, friends and father rallying around him, and seeing to his needs, and tending him so sweetly. We see the gruff side of the Gaffer all too often, it's lovely to see his fatherly side for a change. ( And I guess I'm going to have to go back to the fight chapter again, as I don't seem to recall that rag.) Beautiful bit of h/c! Author Reply: I love it when Sam gets to be taken care of for a change. It so rarely happens. He's always the one looking after everyone else. It's easy to forget that he has needs of his own. His friends and family will do anything to comfort him, even though they are upset themselves to see him like he is. Gaffer may be gruff on the outside, but he's really a big softy when it comes to his kids. When it comes right down to it, he'll do whatever he can for them. (And you don't remember the rag because it wasn't mentioned before. It was only briefly mentioned at the beginning of this chapter that Sam had cleaned up at Bag End, showing how dutiful he is even when he's so injured he can barely stand. I figured everyone would know where the rag came from without having to concentrate on it too much.) Thank you for the praise! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 11/17/2004 |
| Seems I am on line at the right time, all of my favorite authors are posting. Was glad to see a new chapter of this one up. Poor Sam is really having a time of it in this one. I hope Frodo arrives soon. That ring will take every advantage until he does and I don't know how much more of this Sam will be able to stand. I can completely understand the Gaffer's reaction to the news at the Ivy Bush. He is very worried about more rumors upsetting Sam again. It will be interesting to see what he tells Sam about this, if anything. Or if someone else delivers this news instead before Frodo can arrive. Waiting for more! Author Reply: Sam's pretty close to the breaking point right now, poor little guy. Relief is on its way, thank goodness. The Gaffer has a lot on his mind right now, just worrying about Sam and trying to figure out who hurt him. He'll be having to apologize to Goodheart though. ;) | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 11/14/2004 |
| Oh for heaven's sake, I don't know how I'm going to be able to list all the really good things in this chapter! I love the tender moment with Esmeralda, and her telling him he's the best hobbit in the Shire, and his realization of just how much Sara and Esme love him. I was tickled at all the banter between the reunited cousins--they are almost giddy to be together again, and you can tell. I was gratified to see you call the Bolger home Brock Hall, and Frodo's recounting of his adventure there to his friends. His shock at realizing what had been thought of him rang so true. I was pleased with Paladin's handling of the gawkers at the Floating Log. I giggled at the account of Pippin causing the mudslide. And finally, Merry's and Pippin's own resolutions to never let Frodo down again rang so true. Congratulations on a great chapter; now all you have to do is get Frodo home to Sam, and get Bag End back from Lotho. Looking forward to it! Author Reply: Frodo realizes just how much he means to his family now. He won't make the mistake of thinking they don't care about him again. They are giddy, they're on hyperdrive, they're so giddy. :) Brock Hall - one less thing I had to think about, I just lifted the name out of your story, hope you don't mind. Unless it's really supposed to be called that? Frodo would have found out about the rumors sooner or later, and Merry and Pippin would have had to face the music eventually. The longer it was withheld from him, the more hurt he would have been by it, so Folco helped by blurting it out actually. If any hobbit can disperse a crowd, it's Paladin. Whoops, Pippin didn't cause the mudslide. He was in Tuckborough causing his own form of trouble. :) This story really is setting up things that will come into play during LOTR: Lotho's devilry, the Conspiracy (notice that it was Frodo's suggestion to have Sam "spy" on him, lol). Thanks so much for the praise. I'm glad you enjoyed it. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 11/14/2004 |
| It HAS grown in the telling, hasn't it? Looking forward to the final chapters with anticipation. Author Reply: It truly has grown, far more than I ever thought it would. The original outline I have for this story looks likes for a completely different story! Hm, I guess I could still write that other story then couldn't I? I'll have to put that on my list. :) I should be getting the next chapters up fairly quickly. I want to get Frodo home to his Sam! Thanks for reading. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 11/14/2004 |
| Oh, WONDERFUL! Have been following this for months on FFN, and am thrilled to find it's now here as well. Poor Lotho--anyone deserves more than he got out of his parents! Amd then to have the Ring working on him.... Author Reply: Yes, I post at both sites, thanks for following it. Lotho did get stuck with some pretty lousy parents. I think he actually could have turned out decent if he had more supportive and understanding parents. The Ring knows how to pick its targets. Lotho was ripe for the picking, so to speak. Thankfully, Sam was there to diffuse the situation before Lotho could get his hands on it. | |