Reviews (239)

Cibilka · 7 January 2022 · Chapter 2: The Party

Lovely series! I've just been in that kind of mood of filling in some gaps in the story. I just can't get enough of these two! What they have is the most precious and beautiful thing in the book for me. My heart suffers for what they both had been through. Frodo losing himself to It, and Sam losing Frodo to It. It's such a tragedy words can't describe. But despite the pain and tribulations, love endures. It was for the best that Frodo didn't tell his friends in advance about his plan, for if he did, he would have met some resistance from his cousins. I doubt Sam would stop him, for he knew in himself that he was hurting beyond words and he deserved to go there for his healing. Hence, why his response was, "And I can't come." I don't know what he would've done if he hadn't married yet! It'd have been more bitter for him, Frodo leaving him alone like that. I believe the latter waited for Sam to settle down with a family so he knew he would be okay once he was gone. And it was time for him to be whole, in the sense that he needn't worry about his master anymore, and he could look after himself and his family.

H.G. · 6 September 2016 · Chapter 49: Alone

Not sure how realistic I find this. I don't think orcs would *really* do that, I think they'd be more interested in what hobbits taste like than... that. Pretty scary notion.

whisperer · 25 April 2013 · Chapter 70: Home

oh dear, i can never thank you enough for this story. i didn't read this without tears in my eyes. It breaks my heart and haunt my waking mind. It just happen that I'm a man, so I'm trying to stop myself from bursting. nevertheless, i really love your work specially this one. I only leave review if i loved what i had read. to put my gratitude into words would only fail me, dear.

Queen Galadriel · 24 August 2007 · Chapter 70: Home

Oh, Antane, if I had not already been drained of tears (by real life stuff) this surely would have brought them—tears not of pain but of that feeling I have when I finish reading ROTK that I’ve never been able to describe. I’m happy that the reunion is coming, sad for the good-byes, and also sad that I’ve once again reached the end of a journey that you’ve led me on with your words. The poetry at the end was *so* perfect and just absolutely right! And the last line—oh! Something of this length takes a great amount of dedication, even when you love it; I’m so glad you have that and shared this with us. *hugs* God bless, Galadriel

Larner · 21 August 2007 · Chapter 70: Home

Yes, so right. The two halves coming together, sharing the last over half a century with one another before they go on to their next great adventure--a purely joyful one this time.

Queen Galadriel · 21 August 2007 · Chapter 69: Hope

You are about to get a gigantumongous review (yes, it¡¦s a word now! ƒº) of all the chapters I have to catch up on because reviewing is difficult, so I¡¦m doing it all in one so I don¡¦t have to mess with the technical stuff over and over. Sorry! ƒº ¡§A Glad Reunion¡¨ ¡§I have sought healing in mortal lands and found it not.¡¨ It sounds like a line of poetry¡Xexactly something Frodo would say¡Xbut it is such a sad thing. I just *love* Sam¡¦s part of this¡Xhis thoughts of the tree and richer soil (of course, he¡¦s a gardener at his very heart), and this: The wind brushes my tears away, but I think it¡¦s actually your hand doing so and I hear your loving voice in my heart, joyfully teasing me with some of Mr. Bilbo¡¦s words and your own, "Don¡¦t be too sad, Sam. The fire¡¦s very cozy here and the food¡¦s very good and there are Elves when you want them." That is just perfect. ¡§Shouldn¡¦t Have Beens¡¨ Frodo: I still have trouble at times telling dream from reality, but if I knew I would never see you again, then I would never leave, but bear the pain here and treasure every moment I had with you until Saruman¡¦s words fulfilled themselves. This gave me the shivers. It is so obvious how he suffers in this chapters, with guilt that should not be his. And Sam: ¡§¡Kcompeting with the sun¡K¡¨ *smiles* And great minds do think alike ƒº. I hear echoes of what Frodo said to Sam in my own tale after Bell¡¦s death here: How often I have talked to you then, either in my heart or softly aloud, and I know I have you heard talk to me, telling me all the things you had told me before, about love and loss and all that being a part of life and life without it would be no life at all. Oh, you make me miss that story, but it¡¦s as though I¡¦ve turned onto another road for a while and can¡¦t look back yet! ¡§Falling Asleep Again¡¨ Frodo¡¦s pain in this chapter is almost palpable. And Sam¡¦s recollection of watching, and not knowing, that his master/brother/friend was slowly saying good-bye to the land that had birthed him¡K:*( ¡§Where Shall I Find Rest?¡¨ Okay, this is going to make me cry before I¡¦m done with it. I can¡¦t pick favorite parts, because I¡¦d have to quote almost the entire thing back to you. The inclusion of the Sea Bell was wonderful; wow, I¡¦d forgotten the power of that poem, or maybe I¡¦d never truly noticed how much of Frodo¡¦s pain it held until it was put into context for me. I would so love to see, sometime, an AU wherein Frodo could remain (or they could all go over the Sea) and teach and conspire with the children. Sam¡¦s words about the smile even while holding back tears¡Kwow. :*( ¡§Blessed Night¡¨ I¡¦m running out of words to describe what this makes me feel. It¡¦s overwhelmingly sad, and yet not¡Xa blessed sadness, almost. Memories of love and peace amidst the grief¡Xyes, indeed. ¡§Hope¡¨ Ah, there is pain in this chapter, but also reason for smiles. Had to grin at Frodo¡¦s last sentence, simply because such a sudden sweetness was a relief. *Is* it Galadriel granting Sam this gift, or perhaps another lady¡XElbereth? Or One still greater? Oh! I thought there was another chapter! Well, I guess I¡¦m caught up now. God bless, Galadriel

Larner · 20 August 2007 · Chapter 69: Hope

Ah, but they will wait, and when the time comes at last it will be the more blessed for the patience. And bless our Queen for her addition.

harrowcat · 20 August 2007 · Chapter 69: Hope

Hope is a powerful gift to hold on to. Loved the poem of course. Sorry to have missed reviewing but have been spending time with my parents which is an internet free zone. Have been reading andenjoying every word though.

Larner · 18 August 2007 · Chapter 68: Blessed Night

At least they were not kept apart indefinitely.

Larner · 16 August 2007 · Chapter 67: Where Shall I Find Rest?

I doubt Frodo was anywhere as successful as he'd have liked to be in hiding his anniversary illnesses. PTSD is such a pernicious condition, and so destructive to body, mind, and spirit. Now, to find the healing. And between you and our Lady the Poem is so sad and appropriate and truly Tolkienish.

Larner · 12 August 2007 · Chapter 66: Falling Asleep Again

That day will come indeed.

Larner · 5 August 2007 · Chapter 65: Shouldn't Have Beens

Yes, the love continues, through the loss and the reconstruction--the reconstruction of the Shire, and the reconstruction of joy.

harrowcat · 29 July 2007 · Chapter 64: A Glad Reunion

The fire’s very cozy here and the food’s very good and there are Elves when you want them." The perfect place!

Larner · 28 July 2007 · Chapter 64: A Glad Reunion

Yes, that would be a sentence to recall when the longing strikes; and I'm glad that they were given that time together before the end for the two of them. All three Hobbits so needed that healing.

harrowcat · 26 July 2007 · Chapter 63: Gifts

soon my heart will cry to you and your heart will answer, but you will not be able to pad across the hall and reach me. I will be beyond the reach of your arms, but I don’t believe, or I hope for it not to be true, that I will be beyond the reach of your heart. I do not think that Sam could have been so happy and whole during his time in the Shire after Frodo had sailed unless there was, indeed, a connection of the heart. Lovely Antane.

Queen Galadriel · 25 July 2007 · Chapter 63: Gifts

I'll have to review this one in parts. FRODO Oh my, what a way with words, and words that cut right to the heart! But the Shadow did not depart or it grew again, there in my heart where it had gnawed for so many months and as ripped apart from the Ring as I felt at the Fire, all the roots hadn’t been torn away, there were still some left and they grew again in the soil that was left. I wonder that you can hold so many broken pieces of my heart that you have since the journey began. Piece by piece you gathered them as bit by bit they were torn away and you held each piece close to you, hiding them in your own heart, the safest place for them, even though their jagged edges cut your heart. Still you would have them in no other place and nor would I, though I grieve for the pain they cause you, but as long as they remain there and the other pieces in the custody of my brother-cousins then part of me will always be here, with you, in the Shire we love and labored so long to save. And I will keep the pieces you three gave to me so very long ago and perhaps then I will be able to repair the damage done and become whole again and so will the three of you. What imagery! Oh, what beautifully written, painful imagery! I finger it for the solace it provides and I try so hard, so very hard not to wish it was the Ring instead that I caress. I cry hard at night because I fail in that and do so wish. How many times I have lain awake at night with nothing but my tears and longing for company after you leave. *tears**hugs him* But most times, I feel I am a terrible burden to you, that you still must come to me nearly every night and more often than not have to listen to my tears. How many times I have apologized to you as I have held you so tight and sobbed as I haven’t since my parents and your mum have died. And I don’t even know this time why I am grieving. Why should I mourn the loss of such a despicable thing? Why do you have to see and hear that torment? But you will not stay away. Your heart cannot. No, Frodo, never a burden, never! And if I know Sam (and I do), of course he can't stay away. What loving heart would? SAM This especially touched me: I watched you sleep so many times, your fingers wrapped around that gem, just like they used to be wrapped around the Ring. I saw your lips moving soundlessly and I wondered what you were saying. I came to you then, brushed your curls and kissed your head and told you how much I loved you and you always calmed then, your grip lessening and your lips falling silent, though at times I heard you murmur that you loved me too. It was that hard in the beginning after you left, not to be able to still do that each night, to wake you each morning with the same caress and kiss, to have others do the caring for you that I have since I was nine and, if I am so blessed, will be doing at 109. Oh, hard indeed. And even dearer is the gift you have given me of yourself, my love, that most tremendous gift of all. This needs no extra words; it says it all on its own. It's often said, "What would Frodo do without Sam?" but might we not reverse it and say "What would Sam do without Frodo?" I think so. God bless, Galadriel

Larner · 24 July 2007 · Chapter 63: Gifts

This gift was one to help ease the longing and shadows--ease, but not heal them. Too long and too deeply were they etched; and now the easing is finally granted. And Sam is able to see him healing, which is a blessing.

Queen Galadriel · 21 July 2007 · Chapter 62: The Return of the King

How bittersweet this is. Dear Frodo...it's so sad to see him so obviously really believing he deserves none of the honors heaped on him. And Sam's words about the song are just so...well, so Sam. :*) (A teary smile, does that work? That's the feeling I was left with.) Namarie, God bless, Galadriel

harrowcat · 21 July 2007 · Chapter 62: The Return of the King

Imagine that, a hobbit being asked to help crown the king! I could have burst from happiness. Ah, Antane - one of my most favourite bits from the tale! And missing so badly from the film excwpt that I liked the not bowingbit too! *g*

Larner · 20 July 2007 · Chapter 62: The Return of the King

Good memories and memories of horror side by side; and the weakening of the resolve to know joy. I'm just glad that Sam went to be by his Master's side at the end, and that these brothers of the heart knew that fulfillment before the final one.

Queen Galadriel · 20 July 2007 · Chapter 61: Chained

Chained, indeed. *shudders* Poor Frodo! Talk about a love-hate relationship. I'm glad he took it with him and threw it into the Sea, though, so that it will never be found again. So cool that Sam's and Frodo's first words in this chapter mirror one another. Do you see our Frodo wearing your favorite shirt and breeches - the ones that you were wearing when I first met you? I couldn’t part with those, I just couldn’t. And it’s his favorite outfit too. He’s quite proud of you, my love. *smiles* God bless, Galadriel

Queen Galadriel · 20 July 2007 · Chapter 60: Dreams Come True

I guess in a way, almost everything sad in Frodo's and Sam's part of the tale did come untrue, it just took a lot longer than Sam thought when he said those words. God bless, Galadriel

Queen Galadriel · 20 July 2007 · Chapter 59: Harthad Uluithiad

Sam's part of this just makes me tear up. It's not any particular passage, just the poignancy of the whole thing, and the eagle adds to that nicely. That would indeed be comforting to wonder if it had come all the way out of the West. God bless, Galadriel

Queen Galadriel · 20 July 2007 · Chapter 58: Claim

The contrast between the two parts of this chapter is heart-wrenching. Frodo was not truly freed from the Ring (not yet), and Sam rejoiced that he had been. Frodo is battling with darkness, and Sam can come back from his own some, led by a loving embrace and still more loving eyes. And poor Frodo, not knowing quite what happened at the fire. If only he would ask, his heart might be eased, if only a little. But I guess he'll have to ask if he's to write that part of the Red Book. Or could it be that he already heard Sam's account and his heart doubts? God bless, Galadriel

Larner · 17 July 2007 · Chapter 61: Chained

The chain as the sign of slavery to the Ring--but also the distancing of it. The Ring was the greatest horror, and the chain held it. But love is there, and one day that love will be allowed to be expressed openly again, freely between these two brothers of the heart.