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| Love Endures by Antane | 114 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Eleon | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/3/2007 |
| Oh...*tear* that's wonderful! Merry and Pip are..well....I mean, they said....oh, everyone thinks that they're all fun and games, but Merry "gets it", And Pippin, dearest hobbit, his encouragements, (simple though they be), are the most needed! "....Pippin raised his cousin’s head and looked at him in the eye. "None of that nonsense now," he said in a strict tone and Frodo almost smiled. "Now repeat after me. Sam loves me." "Sam loves me." "Merry loves me." "Merry loves me." "Pippin loves me." "Pippin loves me." "Very good," the tween said with a smile, though his eyes were bright with tears. He put Frodo’s head back down on his shoulder. "Thank you, Frodo. Thank you for all you did. We can never thank you enough. Merry and I are so proud of you." Frodo half raised his head, mouth open to protest, but Pippin tapped him on the nose. "Now don’t you dare argue that you have done nothing to be proud of, you ridiculous Baggins, or I’ll make Sam promise that he will remind you of it every day until you are either driven mad or are finally convinced." "I won’t argue," Frodo promised. "Now say I am your hero." "You are my hero." "No," Pippin said, adopting that strict tone again, "I said to say I am your hero." Frodo winced. "I am your hero." "Say it like you know it’s true." Frodo’s features twisted. "I can’t." Pippin kissed his head. "The day you are able to, you will know you are well." Frodo smiled faintly and sadly at his beloved cousin. "When did you grow up so much?" Pippin smiled, then lowered his head so he could hear that heartbeat he had heard all his life. "I love you, cousin." Frodo kissed the top of his head. "I love you, too, ’squeak, always and forever."...." Even though what he says seems so....almost childish, that's what Frodo needs; the simple love that only a hobbit can give. *tears* Author Reply: Indeed! Love from everyone from God on down while he struggles to learn how to love himself again. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Eleon | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/3/2007 |
| Oh, goodness! His first fanclub! It must be the eyes! *giggles* I'd be one of those hobbit lasses, too I shouldn't wonder! Waiting for him to go walking by just to hide and giggle?!?! Yep! That's be me!! *hugs hobbits* Author Reply: Must be! And that fan club has grown and grown. I figure he must have been quite taken aback when people would come up to him and Sam in heaven and thank him until the professor got there to explain things! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Eleon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/2/2007 |
| I'm "Sam" in Elanor's Letters. And I wanted to say thank you for this visual. My heart keeps breaking over and over. After I read this first part, it made me think of Jesus! Ya' know how when you get angry at your brother, it means you've really murdered him/her? Well...I was thinking of how many stupid times I do that, every day; I "kill" one of my dearest friends all the time, every day.....I keep picturing myself over by little brother's body, with Frodo's elven cloak on, and Sting in my hand, piercing his throat......then I see Jesus walk up and suddenly, there's a sort of delay, then I'm slicing at Him and not my bro. And after I've done it.....it's too late; I've already killed Jesus. I have asked both my brother and Jesus to forgive me, now and I'm trying to be better, but I just.....thank you so much for that visual!! For Frodo, the Shire, and Jesus, (as well well as my own Gaffer), ~Eleon~ Author Reply: Wow, what a review! Thank you. This is one of my spiritual tales so I hope you enjoy accompanying Frodo further on this very difficult journey. We all fall down many times and hurt those we love most. I'm trying to be more Sam-like in his love, but it's hard! I so loved your and Elanor's letters - so very sweet - I hope to see more, if not more letters, more anything from you two! :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Elanor Silmariën | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 1/27/2007 |
| *wipes eyes* Oh gosh, I couldn't get through those three chapters without crying! It's so moving! I am always in awe of how you bring the spiritual aspects into these stories so seamlessly! Well done, my dear! God bless, Ellie Author Reply: A rather belated (sorry!) but heartfelt hantanyel, my dear! So glad you enjoyed. It's certainly been an interesting story to write and there's more to come, just not sure when. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Elemmírë | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 1/25/2007 |
| Hi Antane, I must apologize for such a late review. I've been pressed for time as of late, but I haven't forgotten either you or this wonderful tale of spiritual woe, forgiveness, and Love. As you reminded me in your email: I know you originally stated you did not wish for Frodo to head where he is in this last chapter, but apparently he needed to go West ... even in this AU tale. I really love how you accomplished this, however. It's very striking (not to mention important) that you had Frodo traveling only with the two sources of Light: the star glass and his symbolic candle. That Frodo is ready to leave all else--all material possesions--behind shows that he is truly ready for his journey to eternal Peace and Healing from the One. He is truly ready to let go of that which he was bound to, the familiar, and journey into the unknown, just as we all must do one day. And the scene with Galadriel I found to be extremely touching. You brought tears to my eyes when Frodo said he wanted to be nothing more than a hobbit. "Say a Song rather," Gandalf said softly, coming to their side. "The same Song that has been played since the beginning and has not yet finished all the melodies within it. Your own music will strengthen here, Frodo, and become again the marvelous part of the symphony it was created to be." As an avid music lover and former musician, I absolutely LOVE that analogy! You made my day too, by including the scene where Gandalf speaks with Bilbo about his increased lack of faith and anger toward Illuvatar. May Bilbo continue to find his own peace and spirit again not only through Frodo's healing, but also through visiting theiaun again and reclaiming his love for the Creator. It's like one who has been through unpleasant circumstances in life and turned away from the Church and God because they do not find the answers they seek, only one day to realize that it is only through Jesus' love for us that one can begin to understand and heal from such wounds. May the iaun be a balm to Bilbo's soul as it has been for Frodo's. I still think you're doing a great job with this, Antane! Namarie, ~Elemmírë~ p.s. Bilbo may be fading himself, but I believe he is stubborn enough to hang on until he sees Frodo well on his way to shining once more. Only then, will Bilbo leave him ... and Illuvatar would only take Bilbo away from Frodo only when it is truly the right time for them both. The trick being that Frodo would need at some point to realize this and not become bitter and angry himself at the One for taking all he ever loved away from him: his parents, Sam (in a way), and Bilbo. Author Reply: Hantanyel, my dear Elemmire! I have been anxiously awaiting your review of this since your very kind and deliciously long ones are so very much appreciated! :) I've been wanting to do the Bilbo-Gandalf talk for a long time and in other stories too but have been afraid that I wouldn't be up to it. I am glad it turned out so well and has been so well received. Hantanyel also for the p.s. - that does give food for thought because I wasn't sure how to proceed further. I would want Bilbo to heal completely also. His faith isn't anywhere as deep as Frodo's, perhaps coming so late in life or because he feels as he said Iluvatar didn't live up to what he hoped/expected/prayed for. But I think maybe he's coming around. I don't think Frodo will get mad - I think he understands on a very deep level what is going on here, more than Bilbo with the parent's heartbreak of seeing a beloved child suffer but the child understanding more, trusting and loving easier than adults. (Not that Frodo isn't an adult but being much younger and truly understanding himself to be a child of Iluvatar and feeling safe, loved, taken care of in that role as one would around one's parents). But we shall see - this story has been developing for me at just about the same time as it has been for everyone else, written almost entirely without a map and just seeing where the journey takes Frodo and Bilbo...and me. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 1/23/2007 |
| Truly lovely Antane. The discussion between Bilbo and Gandalf is masterful. Author Reply: Hantanyel, my dear or perhaps you should thank the Author of the Story - I continue to grow and am but a pencil in His hand or so it must seem at times. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 1/22/2007 |
| Oh, I love this meeting between two who have undergone similar hurts. And Frodo's "Papa..." Oh, so sweet, and so right somehow. I know I've cried out in such a fond way at times. :) And Gandalf's talk with Bilbo. It's hard to imagine our usually gentle Bilbo angry, but from a human perspective he would have reason to be. Gandalf is right, of course. I really think this story could help someone going through depression or bitterness or something, Antane. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I am being guided just as much as Frodo and Bilbo are, growing as they grow. Glad you liked the Papa, ammelda - that was cute I thought. :) Thanks for the all the kind words! Namarie, God bless, Melinyel, Antane :) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 1/20/2007 |
| Parting is here a sweet sorrow, accepting the better things to come for Frodo even though he won't be able to share them directly for some time. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 1/20/2007 |
| And my own tears were falling just as fast throughout this Antane. You are my hero! Truly he will be healed when he can bear to believe this. A few missing words or typos in this chapter Antane. You also have Gandalf setting out from Bag End with them and already being there at the Havens. I know he is a Wizard but this is very clever. Doesn't detract but does distract a little. Author Reply: Sorry about the Gandalf little blunder - fixed that. Hannon le for your tears, my dear harrowcat. So glad you like this! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 1/19/2007 |
| Oh, Antane, how do you manage to do this? You get me sobbing my heart out (from Sam's farewell to Rosie and the Gamgees onward) and then laughing through my tears (at Pippin's "repeat after me" and "say I am your hero"). It's so painful, but there's so much love. My heart does ache so for all of them! For Frodo for obvious reasons, for Sam as it has from the beginning, for Merry and Pippin for having to say good-bye and just for being their sweet, dear, brave selves, and for Rosie and the others. Yes, she needs this separation to get on with her own healing, but oh, the Shire has lost fifteen treasures, and that's a lot to lose at a stroke. I'd almost forgotten those lullabies, which allowed me to see them with the eye of a reader and not so much their author--translater. "I will love you till the day that I die." Indeed. Perfect. Thank you, my dear. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: And I didn't even think this chapter was very good, though your lullabies did improve things! :) Hantanyel, ammelda for all your kind words. Namarie, God bless, Melinyel, Antane :) | |