Lindelea
· 14 April 2025
· Chapter 29: A Special Birthday
What a joyful story! I so love to see Sam celebrated.
Ah, practical Merry. This sounds just like him: “We were wondering if you would wake up soon so we can do this for you,” said Merry.
And Frodo is right. He wouldn't be there without Sam. Come to think of it, none of them would.
I forgot it was Sam's birthday! (I just noticed today in the Tale of Years that Saruman arrived in the Shire on Frodo and Bilbo's birthday! How ironic...)
Author's reply
Thank you! I do too. And it's a correct timing for them to remember.
I do like to characterize Merry properly. :)
Tolkien always manages to write things on purpose- we know that he used a lot of time to get the appendices right. Such attention to detail. :)
shirebound
· 13 April 2025
· Chapter 29: A Special Birthday
So much Sam love!
Author's reply
yes he deserves it so much! :)
shirebound
· 13 April 2025
· Chapter 28: The Hobbit Child of 3021
*even more happy sighs*
Author's reply
aww glad you are happy- hobbit fic should be endearing. :)
Lindelea
· 7 April 2025
· Chapter 28: The Hobbit Child of 3021
Ohhh. But this is wonderful! I've daydreamed about Frodo's experience of living with Sam and Rosie and Elanor, even wrote a little about his enjoying the role of "Uncle Fro" before he had to sail. But I really hadn't thought about this most important aspect: So glad that she gets to live in a world of peace.
Yes. Exactly. Elanor's birth is exactly one of the reasons why Frodo could consider his own loss completely worth it in light of the reward: peace and light, instead of the misery and darkness the Enemy intended, for generations to come.
Author's reply
Thank you so much! I think it was a very encouraging and joyful time for Frodo to experience the birth of Elanor. He just went through March 13 so having light on Gondorian New year must've made him feel hopeful.
Elanor's birth is exactly one of the reasons why Frodo could consider his own loss completely worth it in light of the reward: peace and light, instead of the misery and darkness the Enemy intended, for generations to come. I can't say it better. =)
Lindelea
· 28 March 2025
· Chapter 26: Of Darkness and Hope
I agree. They are both incredibly lucky. Or maybe Someone who was watching over them thought they deserved each other. (Well deserved, of course.)
Author's reply
Both incredibly lucky and complement each other so very well. :D
shirebound
· 28 March 2025
· Chapter 25: A New Beginning
This makes my heart happy. :)
Author's reply
aww i'm so glad! <3 thanks!
Lindelea
· 28 March 2025
· Chapter 27: Of Healing, Memory, and Moving On
How I love this story! It's wonderful to see the younger cousin take charge and protect the older cousin. He had to grow up so fast on the Quest, having seen wonders and faced terrors and lived through battles and flames at his young age. Now he is wise beyond his years, even setting aside his own feelings in his desire to comfort Merry's pain at Frodo's absence.
(And, of course, I can never get quite enough of Merry. I'm always happy to see a fanfic that takes him seriously.)
I love the exchange near the end, that each one is there for the other – always. And the last paragraph paints an excellent picture of the young Travellers' life together, while reinforcing the need to honor Sam and Frodo for what they gave and suffered and sacrificed.
Well done.
Author's reply
Thank you so much! yes, i love cousin fics as well and i think Pippin being there for Merry is so key to recovery . THey shared so much together it's like that pub scene when they all cheers to each other wordlessly, like veterans of war, they need not say too much to comfort each other because they KNOW what they've gone through.
I love Merry too--i like his character arc very much and find him speaking to me quite often. :)
the need to honor Sam and Frodo for what they gave and suffered and sacrificed. that is such the crux of the story, isnt' it.
THank yoU!
Larner
· 19 November 2023
· Chapter 24: What's the Turning Point for Sorrow?
In that moment all sacrifices were brought into the joy of the victory, and all losses were now blessed. I am so glad that he and Eowyn were able to share in the mystery of that delight.
Am so sorry that I've been delayed in reading your latest offerings. For weeks I've known to many losses of trust and hope of my own. However, things are now looking up for me as well as for those who rejoiced in the fall of Mordor.
Author's reply
I think it was quite a critical time for them both and it'll be great to see more fics that thoughtfully gap fill this time since Tolkien didn't write much about them after Many Partings. It must've been a relief that the SHadow did pass to almost everyone's surprise.
It's ok there's a delay! I hope RL will get better for you! :hugs:
Larner
· 19 November 2023
· Chapter 23: Before You Depart
it's a moment we love to imagine--the two brothers taking leave of one another the evening before Boromir left for the north.. Well imagined.
Author's reply
Thanks so much! I love to see different versions of this time. :)
Lindelea
· 9 November 2023
· Chapter 22: The Darkest Road
Such lovely moments between the cousins. The love shines through.
I must admit, Merry's thoughts gave me a turn: ...but Aragorn had insisted that Frodo would physically be all right. (emphasis mine; it jumped out at me)
I love to read Cormallen stories, but there don't seem to be very many of them. Thank you for this one.
Author's reply
Thanks so much! I love MErry and Frodo dynamic and think they are very close and i'm glad for this post Quest conversation.
I think it was everyone's hope that Frodo would recover. :(
There are never enough Cormallen stories! =)
Antane
· 9 March 2017
· Chapter 22: The Darkest Road
I love this ending! For indeed this is why Frodo suffered so much - for all he loved and even for all those he did not even know but still wished to save. Go hobbits!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you so much! I think moments between cousins like this is what we really need in order to comfort our characters. Frodo needs comfort but glad he can provide it too. :)
Larner
· 1 March 2017
· Chapter 22: The Darkest Road
Each of them went through his own dark road when you think on it. And Frodo is right to be concerned with Merry's wellbeing. I just rejoice they were able to return to the Shire together and see it healed as well.
Author's reply
I am glad as well! I think each hobbit went through a lot, more than they thought and we can write many fics to explore these feelings. It'll be pages and pages of fic to explore all this! :D
shirebound
· 26 February 2017
· Chapter 22: The Darkest Road
"Out of sorts", oh my! What a hobbity way of making light of their ordeal. Such a sweet, dear conversation between the cousins.
Author's reply
Thank yoU! i think they needed some bonding time as well. :)
Grey Wonderer
· 26 February 2017
· Chapter 22: The Darkest Road
Let me be the first one to tell you how much I love this! It's easy to forget how difficult things were for Merry. Waiting to be sure others will recover is very difficult and his own injuries did kind of get over-looked since the other 3 were in worse shape. I love how you let Frodo focus on Merry for a while and be the older, protective cousin. This is an excellent story! Thank you for sharing it here.
Author's reply
It's easy to overlook dear Merry and i always want to write him in on any occasion if possible. The story "Left Behind" also focuses on Merry and i love fics that protect Merry a bit. It was tough for him to be in Minas Tirith before the hobbits came back.
I would write more in these canon fillers. :) Thank you muchly for your review! :)
Larner
· 25 March 2016
· Chapter 21: A Prince's Plea
The cheeky fellow! Prince indeed! Strider must be laughing in his heart.
Author's reply
Strider is lucky to have hobbits by his side. I think Pippin is indeed quite a character! :)
Larner
· 25 March 2016
· Chapter 20: Simple Comforts
It must have been such a shock to find Gandalf by him at that time. But he is indeed healing, at last.
Author's reply
Yes physically he is... but mentally that is still too soon to say. :) BUt glad for that comforting moment. It is really something to learn you're still alive after all that.
Larner
· 2 January 2015
· Chapter 19: Halimath 1482
A sad farewell, but a necessary one, I know. And I do hope that Frodo is there to be reunited with his best friend.
Author's reply
Yes, canon wrote that all Fellowship members eventually went to Valinor but i do find it sad Sam had to leave so much family...Elanor will go on though... it's bittersweet. :) :(
shirebound
· 2 January 2015
· Chapter 19: Halimath 1482
Elanor married a true gem of a hobbit, and no mistake.
She had never imagined that she would share the same fate as Queen Arwen had with the parting she had with her own father
I never thought of that! Thank you for giving me something new to ponder.
Author's reply
Thank you for your thoughts! I'm glad that i wrote something worth pondering. :) I love that fic but never posted on SoA but it's an older fic. :)
Lindelea
· 26 December 2014
· Chapter 18: It Willl Not Be Long Now
I love this: But the sky was getting lighter as if hope was near. !
Larner
· 24 December 2014
· Chapter 18: It Willl Not Be Long Now
I rejoice that he was the one to see the Eagles coming, to realize that help unlooked for was sent, and not all could go ill!
Author's reply
I think that is a pivotal moment and in some way we get it in the film but i like how it was written in the book as well and i lke it that it is Bilbo's point of view so expanding it would seem logical. :)
Antane
· 31 January 2009
· Chapter 15: Between Shadows and Reality
I wonder if he remembers his uncle's words about conquering monsters and not letting fear defeat him. He must for he is doing it... What an inspiration he is.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Something must have guided Frodo at these dark hours and i'm sure that his cousins, Sam and memories of Bilbo and his parents even must've pulled him through. Thanks for forging the connection between the swimming lessons and trying to defeat the Morgul blade's poison! =)
Thanks for reading/reviewing!
Antane
· 31 January 2009
· Chapter 14: Conquering Fear
"Don’t let a fear for something prevent you from being great.”
Words to live by! And words that Frodo and just about everyone else proved during the War of the Ring. I wonder if Bilbo knows how much he shaped the son of his heart. And how much he could shape me too.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Bilbo's line is an inspiration to us all. ;)
I'm sure Bilbo's love for Frodo is what nurtured Frodo's spirit all those years. In addition to his cousins and Sam and Freddy...Frodo did have love after losing his parents early.
Thanks for reading, dear! =)
Antane
· 31 January 2009
· Chapter 13: With me...Till the End
A loving tribute to his brothers - all three of them. How wonderful.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you so much! Thanks for liking. :)
Larner
· 31 January 2009
· Chapter 17: Turning Point
Oh, very movie-verse! And a good look at Merry's thoughts here.
Author's reply
Thanks so much! That is one of my favorite movie scenes from the first movie. :)
Larner
· 31 January 2009
· Chapter 16: Reaffirmations
Absence in this case did nothing to damage the ties already developed. Theirs was a blessed love shared.
Author's reply
I agree as well-- Rosie/Sam is my favorite pairing in LotR. :) As they say, "absence makes the heart grow fonder".