Yes, sticking with him til the end. I love that little discussion. How about "I love you too much to let you go alone." That's ten! :) And Merry and Pippin could have said the same thing. How lucky Frodo is!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
That is ten words and would have worked just as well. Perhaps Merry and Pippin could use it! Frodo is lucky to have such friends, just another part of that extra protection that Illuvitar granted him. :)
Thanks for reading!
Antane
· 3 July 2006
· Chapter 2: Looking After
Thank you for recommending this. What indeed would Frodo do without his Sam? That was mean of Bilbo, but I love Frodo's solution to that.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I wouldn't want to imagine what Frodo's life would have been like without his Sam. The Quest aside, I think Sam is a big part of what made Frodo's life so bright and cheerful after the death of his parents.
Bilbo was rather mean to take advantage of poor trusting Sam, wasn't he? lol He's a rascal and it's easy to see where Frodo gets his more devious tendencies from. :) That's why Frodo is able to come up with such a good solution to any further trickery on Bilbo's part.
Pearl Took
· 18 June 2006
· Chapter 15: Limericks
Ya have the gift, GamgeeFest! These are great fun :)
Author's reply
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed them.
harrowcat
· 18 June 2006
· Chapter 15: Limericks
Oh what fun! I loved Sam's especially.
Author's reply
Sam's is my fave as well. Frodo's runs a close second. :)
Pearl Took
· 17 June 2006
· Chapter 14: The Pippin
Well Done!! I am a fan of both Poe and (of course) Tolkien, and this is adorable and charming. *applause*
Author's reply
*bows* Thank you! I've always enjoyed Poe's writing but its been years since I've read any. I'm glad this held up to an avid fan's scrutiny. :)
Dreamflower
· 16 June 2006
· Chapter 14: The Pippin
Oh gosh! ROTFLMBO! *wheeze*snort*giggle*breathes*
Author's reply
^_^ I love it when readers get a laugh from something I've written! I'm glad this tickled your fancy.
Dreamflower
· 16 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
I just love this. Rose and Sam are such a wonderful and mature couple, loving their huge brood of children all equally well, and yet sensitive to the signs of distress in each individual.
Rose's encouragement was beautifully done, not overdone but just struck the right note.
And Sam's stricken reaction to learning *why* Frodo was upset, and *how* he had caused that upset was so perfect. Of course he would be horrified to realize that his lad felt himself unworthy of his name. And it would be that which would cause his confession, more than anything else.
A beautiful examination of the little things that can trigger strong reactions.
Author's reply
Sam and Rose are well-tuned to their children's needs, as well as each other's. Rose is as sensible and practical as Sam. They both knew that Sam would need to talk to Frodo eventually, Rose just made sure that he didn't dither around about it any longer.
It was a confession long coming and this gave Sam the perfect opportunity to give it. He never would have suspected that Frodo thought himself unworthy, not only of his name but by way of extension, his father's favor as well. Without meaning to, Sam made a mess of things, and once Frodo realized what was going on, it would have been too late for anyone to bring it up in casual conversation. It's a blessing they were able to finally have this talk and get it all out in the open. Now both lads can begin to heal.
harrowcat
· 16 June 2006
· Chapter 14: The Pippin
I don't think it sucks. I think it is sweet!
Author's reply
I'm just so insecure about my poetry. It's nice to know that it doesn't suck! :P
Thanks for reading!
Andrea
· 16 June 2006
· Chapter 14: The Pippin
In his breeches that were slippin', “I am hungwy,” quoth the Pippin.
And I knew I’d be resting nevermore.
Wonderful!
I have to admit, I never read "The Raven" before. So, I first read *your* poem, then the original and then your's again. And you did this very well!
"Quoth the Pippin" - I'm still grinning :)
Thank you for sharing!
Author's reply
Thank you! I had to print out "The Raven" myself to figure out which stanzas I was going to model this after. I wanted to do four stanzas, but doing one more would have taxed my brain too much! I'm glad this inspired you to read the timeless Poe poem. :)
Armariel
· 15 June 2006
· Chapter 3: Parth Galen
Love it. Just........beautiful, really. Truly. What more can I say?
~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thank you so much! I'm touched that this moved you so. ^_^
Armariel
· 15 June 2006
· Chapter 14: The Pippin
Oh...........
how.....................
CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
there, you knew I was gonna say that, didn't you?>:D
Author's reply
Pippin *is* a charmer, even when he's terrifying the help with his boundless appetite. :) Thanks for reading!
MaidenofValinor
· 15 June 2006
· Chapter 14: The Pippin
"quoth the Pippin".
That has to make you laugh!
This was so funny and cute. I'd never think it would work, but you proved me wrong! You're amazing. :D
Author's reply
I was about to give up on it, I have to admit, but Squiggy (my plot bunny) just wouldn't let it be. Poe is probably rolling in his grave, but we'll assume he's laughing right along with you! ;)
Thanks for reading!
MaidenofValinor
· 15 June 2006
· Chapter 12: The Master of Bag End
I had to review again and tell you this! I was sitting in the parking lot of a cafe, waiting for my sister to come out, and I pulled this chapter, which I had printed, out of my purse and started reading it again. I guess I hadn't caught the last line the first time, because I read it and thought "How extremely clever!" That's a cute little joke! haha, just wanted to tell you!
Author's reply
LOL. I'm glad you caught that last line. It sounds just like something Sam would tell to his kids. You know, I have to wonder why the dwarves didn't just leave one behind, if they were that afraid of '13'. But then, Bilbo never would have gone along and we never would know about hobbits, which would just be tragic. :)
Armariel
· 14 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
Just lovely...very touching! A clever idea and beautifully realized.
~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thank you so much! I love stories about Sam and his kids, and lately his kids have been crowding my brain, telling me stories left and right. :) Expect more, though probably not soon. :)
Bodkin
· 14 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
I'm glad Rosie put her foot down and had them settle this. Frodo is old enough to understand - and Sam is striving to put aside some old nightmares. This should help both of them.
Author's reply
Rose is a sensible lass. She might not have known what exactly lay behind the problem, but she knew there was one and she wouldn't rest until it was settled. She looks after Sam in much the same way Sam looked after Mr. Frodo.
Frodo's understanding is exactly what will help Sam through this. There will be times that Sam will choke on the name, but knowing that Frodo knows why and doesn't judge him for it will make those times easier to deal with. And knowing that Sam never judged him at all will help Frodo to come out from under his father's shadow and really begin to bloom in his own right.
MaidenofValinor
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
Oh my...where can I begin?
Simply beautiful...poor Frodo. To have that kind of weight on you must be hard.
And it must have been so hard for Sam to tell anyone that, especially his son.
I love this scenario, I'm always playing around with it a bit myself. Once I thought about it, I was a bit surprised that Sam would want to name his son after Frodo. I would think it would be too painful, and it seems too much like he is naming him to remember, like he'll never see Frodo again. Haha...am I rambling?
Oh, well, amazing job. Beautiful and tear-jerking, and I don't mean my eyes just got a little wet, I mean I had big, fat tears rolling down my cheeks.
:) Lovely. (good title, too.)
Author's reply
To think that you are less than what your parents what you to be has to be the worst thing for any child. Now that Frodo understands the truth, he'll be able to help his father through this transition.
Sam likely wasn't even aware how badly he needed to tell Frodo about that incident until after he had told it. He's so used to bearing his memories that he really doesn't notice that little things like this can add a huge weight, until that weight is lifted.
Sam couldn't dream of *not* naming his firstborn son after his beloved master, but like you, I always thought that it would be difficult for him to say and hear the name every day. Maybe now he can finally start to get past the hurt.
*hands over tissue* :D
Thanks for reading, and thanks for the praise on the title. It was originally going to be "What's in a Name?" but I decided on this other line instead. It sounded more fitting for some reason (less Shakespearean, I suppose, and more in tune with the theme of the story) but I still wasn't entirely sure about it. I'm glad you approve. :)
Lynn H
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
Perfect. Just perfect. Of course that's the reason! And it's a very good story written backward - you had to have figured out just how Sam would have felt about the name before you could set up the problem!
Author's reply
Hello Lynn and welcome! I've always felt that it might have been difficult for Sam to say Frodo's name. The memories attached to it are so intense, not like with Merry and Pippin, or Bilbo or anyone else his children are named for. It did take me awhile though to pin point why exactly Sam had difficulty saying his name. I'm glad that Sam and Frodo were able to resolve this and clear away all the misconceptions and (with time) the hurt.
Thanks for reading!
RenaissanceGrrl
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
Timer? Did they have wind-up timers or something in the day?
...darn tears. You did it again.
Author's reply
I don't see why they couldn't have mechanical timers. They do have clocks and it's more or less the same concept. Plus, I figure the Travellers would have things like that, that the other hobbits wouldn't have. I'm sure Rose puts it to good use. Allows her out of the kitchen to get some chores done. ;)
*hands over tissue* :)
harrowcat
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
Oh this is wonderful GF. And I can just imagine it happening. I am glad that their relationship is close enough that they can discuss it.
Author's reply
Frodo knows his father loves him, there was never any doubt about that. It was just a matter of *how much*. Feeling like you've disappointed your parents, for whatever reason, real or imagined, is such a strain for a child. Frodo was probably glad, deep down, that his father finally asked him why, as it's not something Frodo would bring up on his own. Certainly, the result made the telling worth it. Both father and son were able to heal.
Thanks for the review! :)
demeter d
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 10: In a Flash
I just got the new posting for "By Any Other Name". I thought i would check the other pieces to see if I missed anything before. This is hilarious! Let's see, ages four, six, and "old enough to know better"? We have stories in my family, from a long line of farmers, of the tricks that country kids play on their visiting city cousins. But this one I think Merry did not mind so much. Yes, when adolescence kicks in, he will be shy about it,in the mean time he had quite a moment of glory! I liked the gradual grand build-up, the history of the day, some of the things that COULD have made it memorable but did not, and then the WHOLE "naked truth"! this was a lot of fun. I guess we can see where the Hobbit who grew up to evade orcs and ringwraiths got his start. WELL DONE!
Author's reply
Frodo? Old enough to know better? This *is* the worst rascal in Buckland we're talking about here, LOL! This was too perfect an opportunity for him to pass up. Not only does he give Merry exactly what he wants (though embarrassing tales are likely to come from this once he reaches the age for courting) but he also livened things up. If people weren't going to be creative about their costumes, then he'd give them someone with no costume at all! But not himself, of course. ;)
This is just the beginning of Merry's training in evading capture. He'll have many more opportunities to hone his skills as he reaches his teens and tweens. :)
Thanks for reading!
Periantari
· 12 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
Wow..i'm in tears.
I could quote the whole story since i love it so much and it moved me so but i think you know what you wrote yourself.
I love the interaction in the beginning between Rosie and Sam. I love Sam/Rosie scenes and i can never read enough of them being there for each other in such a loving manner.
But wow, that dialogue between Frodo-lad and Sam... reduced me to tears. So profound, so poignant, so true and i love how you expanded upon your incredible drabble.
Some bits that i just totally loved:
The last thing Frodo wanted to do was talk again about his father one day leaving them all for the Sea. He wanted to think about that as little as he could.
It'll be interesting to know what/how all the Gamgees thought of that actually... i mean knowing that Sam's fate/destiny is to ultimately go to Valinor and not be with them must be kinda tough. :/
“You say everyone else’s name but mine, and that can only be because I’m not like him. I’m not good enough to have his name. I’ve shamed you somehow and I don’t know why.”
Frodo-lad's voice is written so well in here.
I couldn’t be more proud of you and if Mr. Frodo had known you, he’d be just as proud to have you for his namesake. You’re the best hobbit to carry his name there ever was.”
awwww~!!!! :*( :*)
“You’re not a coward, Dad,” Frodo said. “I could never think that.”
“My dad, the stout-hearted,” Frodo said, grinning proudly in turn.
“My lad,” Sam said and hesitated. He drew in a breath and let it out slowly before cupping Frodo’s face and saying softly, almost whispering, “Frodo.”
I love this scene and the relationship you have written between them. I so cherish this fic.
Thank you for giving me a wonderful bedtime story. :)
Author's reply
Hello Peri! Thank you so much for reading and for your lovely review!
There aren't enough Sam/Rose fic out there which is a shame, because they're such an adoring couple. There's no doubt how deeply devoted and connected they are to each other.
In my universe, only Elanor, Frodo and Daisy (and Rose of course) know that Sam might one day sail over the Seas. Elanor knows, for Sam told her many secrets he didn't tell the other children. When Elanor wed and left, she told Frodo, the next eldest, so that he would understand the reasons behind his father's wistfulness and so be able to help him through it. Daisy knows because she overheard Elanor tell Frodo. :) The others will eventually find out of course, and I imagine they will all be sad that they won't be able to keep their father with them, but happy that he'll be with Mr. Frodo again and with the Elves that he loves so much.
Sam and Frodo-lad will grow all the closer after this. Now that everything's out in the open, there will be no need to hold back any longer. Frodo won't be afraid to ask any other questions that come to him and Sam will know that his lad will be able to handle the honest truth. :)
demeter d
· 12 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
So lovely! First, Sam and rose's sweet embrace, with Sam mindful of her comfort even as she comforts him. Then, "Oh, Fro", as all of their shared worries and fears come spilling out. The good professor himself could not have written these moments any better. It is wonderful to watch a young man learning what a special person his father really is, and that he is also special to his father. Wonderfully done!
Author's reply
Thank you so much for your kind words! That is high praise indeed!
Sam is ever mindful of his wife's comfort. I can see them embracing in such a manner quite often. After nearly a lifetime of knowing each other, Rose would be able to read Sam's moods as well as her own and know when to offer comfort and when to give him some peace and quiet.
The Gardner clan always knew their father was special, but its easy for children to forget that as they begin to grow up and start thinking of their own futures. Small moments like these can do much to remind the children why their parents are so remarkable. And every child loves to hear that they are special to their parents.
Thanks for the review!
shirebound
· 12 June 2006
· Chapter 13: By Any Other Name
What a wonderful follow-up to your drabble series!
“My dad, the stout-hearted,” Frodo said, grinning proudly in turn.
“My lad,” Sam said and hesitated. He drew in a breath and let it out slowly before cupping Frodo’s face and saying softly, almost whispering, “Frodo.”
So lovely.
Author's reply
Thank you! Frodo's drabble received so many comments, that I just couldn't leave readers thinking that this was never resolved. Neither could Frodo. He wanted this written down and shared as soon as the other one was posted, but I just didn't have the time until now.
Now both Frodos have called Sam 'stout-hearted'. :)
Andrea
· 1 June 2006
· Chapter 12: The Master of Bag End
Absolutely wonderful :)
I love them all, but this is my favorite line:
The garden is his gift to us, and we are his gift to the garden, for we’ll tend it long after he’s gone and it will remind us of him.
I don't know if Hamfast became a gardener like his dad, but I'm quite sure he'll carry on his spirit!
Author's reply
Sam raised a thoughtful, insightful brood. All his children are testemants to their father's character. Hamfast does display much of his father's famous hobbit sense, as well as his father's ability to see things in their simplicity, and therefore to understand them more fully.
Thanks for reading!
MaidenofValinor
· 1 June 2006
· Chapter 12: The Master of Bag End
Oh...absolutely stunningly amazingly wonderful. This certainly made my day. I wish I could tell you my favourites...but that's all of them! I love Frodo's, though. A lot. And Ruby's. Wow...I'm somewhat speechless! Thank you.
Author's reply
Thank *you* so much! What wonderful praise indeed! Frodo's in my favorite as well, with Ellie's a close second and all the others close on the tailcoats behind her.
I'm glad you enjoyed them all so much. :)