Reviews (34)

Author's reply

Yes--unless he wants to be alone with his wife and doesn't want Frodo overhearing!

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It would have been a big change for all of them, and while Frodo keeps on saying, "Oh, it'll be fine," not even he has thought through all the logical consequences. And it must have been a real treat for Rosie to get to do all that redecorating!

Author's reply

Thanks! I really like looking at the detailed consequences of the changes in these hobbits' lives, and it doesn't take too much envisioning them going up the hill and unlocking the door to wonder exactly how the issue of keys is going to be handled. I'm sure Bag End wasn't dull and gloomy before, but it surely must have been missing something all those years!

Author's reply

Rosie's only just starting to warm up to Frodo, so she can put her foot in when she needs to, but she needs a moment to do that as well. And she'll have to be a good deal more deft about managing one of the gentry, too, instead of her brothers. And goodness, after how many years of being inhabited by bachelors? *grin* I think the whole place is going to look a lot cheerier! Privacy is modern, but I think wealthier hobbits are a good deal closer to it than most people in Middle-earth--Frodo's a bachelor, but he doesn't have any personal servants, and he can afford better heating than most people. (Living underground really does help with insulation like that, too). Add to that the fact that almost all Shire families are now nuclear, and even if they can't normally afford it, I think it'd be a reasonable expectation for Sam and Rose to get some privacy in the early days of their marriage. At any rate, living with the Gaffer in such a situation is very different from living with Mr. Frodo! But, of course, hobbits are practical, and Rosie's quick to realize that that's a silly reason to not look after Frodo. (And of course, adolescence is just as modern and hobbits had that, too! Dear me, it's such fun dealing with an anachronism!)

Author's reply

She was shy, at first, but she didn't want an altercation and once she started she couldn't stop. Also, that is a perfectly legitimate concern to address.

Author's reply

Thank you! This really is the first time I have Frodo acting on his insights, and I think the experience was just as "Let's hope this works" for him as it was for me! There was, after all, only so much he could do; and if Sam had gotten too nervous at the last second who's to say that he didn't just ruin things by meddling? Fortunately things managed to work out but if Frodo manages to have any more flashes of prescience for events that happen while he remains in the Shire I think he'll be a lot more circumspect in acting on them. It seemed at one point to be a very close call! If you wish, you may view Frodo's brightness as a bit of "the hobbit doth protest too much;" I would disagree as someone reading this fic but as an author I'd rather not pry into the fellow's affairs too deeply. I like the idea of his having not just bad days in his post-Quest years, and there's something I find absurdly appealing in his earlier madcap self peeking through just a little bit. He may also have been excessively relieved, to the point of his tongue being loosened: I could see him later mortified at the prospect of his admitting what he did. Whatever you want to think, something odd was going on with him that day. Rosie's growing trust in Frodo, of course, has its downsides, as her snapping at him while Sam's gone shows. Yes, she believed him, but she didn't know why and for a while there it looked as if her faith was completely unfounded. This is really the first day that she's got any concrete proof that he does know more than he ought to. I'm not planning on writing it at the moment, but her first interaction with Frodo after all of this must have been very, very interesting. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Author's reply

We know that March 25 was another significant date for Frodo (knife, sting, tooth), but we also don't get any evidence of his having had an "anniversary" in the conventional sense. So I thought it'd be good to make things just a little off, so people could think what they wanted about Frodo's sleeping in, and then have him in high spirits: after all, this was the day he was finally set free from that horrid thing! Although if you want to say that the hobbit doth protest too much I can't stop you. Just doing my little part in thumbing my nose at fanon. Rosie was obviously not thinking when she said that to Frodo, but it was something that stopped him cold because he was so aware of how much he was beholden to Sam. She may have meant it (expressing a wish for things never to have gotten this messed up), but she didn't mean that (wishing Frodo had died). I imagine that she'll admit that she was wrong and too emotionally wrought up, if not apologize--at the very least she'll be quite embarrassed when she next sees him! Thank you!

Author's reply

Thank you!

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Thank you very much! Rose really did get run through the emotional wringer on this one, didn't she? And thank you especially for the feedback on those "sweet moments." I always get really nervous writing romance and it didn't help that at this particular instance I wanted to do something that was clearly romantic (if not erotic) without resorting to anything beyond a hug. I'm pleased to hear it worked for you.

Author's reply

Hee hee hee! Glad to have fulfilled your expectations! It would have been cruel to leave Rose hanging (even if it makes for good Evil Authorship), especially because if Sam did not take all those not-so-subtle hints that the day (and Rosie) flung at him then he really would be half-wise! Not to mention that we know that by the time everything's settled in Bag End he has asked her. It'd be really interesting to find out Tolkien's take on the timing here: Sam thinks at this point that Frodo doesn't know that he's asked Rosie to marry him, but Frodo's been living with the Cottons up till now so it would have been reasonable for Sam to think he knew if he had asked Rosie a little while back. Plus the timing of moving into Bag End and Sam's forestry work makes the entire plot a bit convoluted. Next chapter in AWS should explain hobbit customs in such a fashion as to better account for Sam's leaving just to get a bunch of flowers (well, he cleaned up a little better too, but still). Sam really does owe Tom several. I'm sure finally proposing to his sister so she won't be sulking around him will placate him somewhat--though of course Tom will still push for as many advantages regarding Marigold as possible!

Author's reply

Thank you! Rosie really was a lucky girl--once Sam had the time, opportunity, and nerve to show his affection to her!

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Hello, cookiefleck; thanks for the review! I felt kind of wretched giving Frodo that vision of Sam, but I think he needed to be fully aware of how devastating leaving him would be (even though he hasn't quite grasped that that's why Sam's crying). It also, fortunately, shows him that Sam will be in good arms... er, hands. I was a little bit nervous about this chapter because it wasn't as obviously about Sam as the last two, but Rosie had to deal with the Cousins before Sam came back. Everything so far feels in sync with canon and characterization and I mean that as the highest compliment. Even if you didn't intend that to be complimentary, I would take it as such! Verisimilitude with canon is something that I strive for in almost all of my fan fiction.

Author's reply

I think it'll still be some time before Rosie feels comfortable with teasing Frodo, but at least she's learning how to deal with his gentle teasing with grace. And this isn't the first time she's come across Merry and Pippin--it's just that now Frodo's trying to work on their cultivating her acquaintance (and they're trying to cultivate her acquaintance on their own as well!). I do think that Merry and Pippin would make anyone who doesn't know them nervously anxious, though! ^_^ I try never to forget the more serious side of Merry and Pippin, and I think that as soon as they realized they were making Rosie uncomfortable they'd go out of their way to apologize: as long as no one else was looking in! I did give some major thought over the nonword "undignifying," but I decided to keep it: if the treatment were undignified, then that would imply that there was something shameful in the treatment itself, whereas "undignifying" suggests that it has the effect of making Pippin undignified. *is a grammar nerd* No guarantees on when "more" is going to happen, but the next chapter should not be nearly as difficult to write as this one was*! *Famous last words...

Author's reply

Yes, well, if it were any other hobbit than Sam Rosie wouldn't think it was possible to love two separate individuals that strongly. But this is Sam we're talking about. Not that that doesn't mean there aren't going to be little tensions when they're all moved in together, but it'll be a little while before that happens. And in case you're wondering, the next bit will be set one day later, and will (finally!) include Sam in the tale.

Author's reply

Thank you!!! I do try to hear each character's "voice" in my head, by which I mean word choice and such, but I can never really tell if I'm right or not until someone else reads it. And yes, I feel quite sorry for post-Quest Merry (and Pippin!)--they've done so much for Frodo, but now the person closest to him and indeed his chief caretaker is Sam! And he was going to sail without even letting them know!

Author's reply

*grin* I was so ridiculously happy when I got it done! I do think that M&P were overdoing it, just a little bit. They're still trying to get their bearings in this new home, with their new selves. So of course it's going to take a bit for Rose to get used to them! Heh, the fifteenth... You may take that however you want. Though his suspiciously asking "why?" implies, I hope, that Merry thinks Frodo expected him to go through something much worse--because Frodo went through something himself two days ago. I don't think Merry was entirely unaffected, but this was (at least to me; as I said you may take that however you want) my attempt to subvert the traditional "all the hobbits had anniversaries" fanon. But yes, entirely too casual. I had a lot of fun working through that apology and trying to figure out exactly why Rosie felt so uncomfortable around Merry and Pippin. I did not mention anything here, but I do think Frodo had a few words with his cousins while Rosie was off on her own--though once they realized what was going on, they were able to analyze their own actions well enough to know what must be done. And you're absolutely right--Rosie hasn't seen nuttin' yet with these two! I think even a basic reading of Appendix B shows how close Sam was to Merry and Pippin in the Fourth Age, and of course as he and Rosie are gentrified she'll have to know these two fellows a lot better than she does now! One step at a time, Rosie, one step at a time...

Author's reply

She will get by them, especially now that they've explained themselves to her to an extent. I hope that as time goes by (after Frodo has left) she'll learn how to give as good as she gets! I always felt bad for Merry, fading out of his cousin's life like that. When I'd originally envisioned the scene, he was considerably more irritated that first Sam does all the looking after him, and then Sam's sweetheart!

Author's reply

Oh, excellent; I'm glad you found this! I imagine that some part of Frodo has already realized that he's leaving, so a lot of his actions at this point are him gracefully preparing the way to make sure Sam has a fulfilling life without him--even though he doesn't consciously realize it yet. And I can't imagine that the past year would have been easy on Rosie, either, especially since somehow she knew since March that Sam was well, but he still didn't come back for another six months! Hopefully getting to know one another will help both of them feel better. Thanks for reviewing! ~Celeritas

Author's reply

Honestly, with both Sam and Rosie giving him the what-for you'd think that Frodo would try to put a little more stock in propriety just so they'll leave him alone! I think the bit where Frodo cried for Rosie was a leap of faith on his part: they still hardly know each other and to bare your soul like that is a very difficult thing to do. But she'd already seen him weak, coming in on his dream like that, and she had just told him that she was trying to do what Sam would--so perforce he had to do what he would have if it were Sam there and not Rose. I don't think Frodo would know for certain whether Sam was perfectly all right while away, but he certainly knows his character and his capacity for healing. Sam seems like the sort not to get troubled by anything as long as he has something to do. It was hard trying to think of how exactly Sam would have changed to those who remained in the Shire over the Quest--because you know he would have to have, but he adjusts back to life in the Shire so well. So I think his time Outside just helped him to realize his Sammish potential a lot faster than he would have within the Shire. Then Rosie just had to see that and put it in her own words. I also think Frodo needed to see exactly what his choice to sail would mean to those he left behind--as grievous as that was! But once he realizes the reason for the sorrow in that vision, he'll remember that Sam is not crying alone, and other, later ones that show him happy and healed will tell him all he needs to know.

Author's reply

I'm glad you picked up on that sentence, because as soon as I had written it I became exceedingly fond of it. PTSD is the current correct medical term (I personally prefer the older "shell shock"), but I try not to actually apply psych per se to fiction that's set in a pre-psych world. Getting bad dreams from bad experiences is pretty normal, and I think that going through what the hobbits went through and not coming out affected by that would be more worrisome than getting bad dreams. I do think that eventually after he's done grieving for Frodo Sam's dreams would die down, but it's only been a year after all and Sam is by no means complete in terms of his character. I'm glad you thought I got Rosie and Frodo's relationship down. There's not a lot about them out there, but one can make educated guesses! Thanks for the review!

Author's reply

Oh, believe me, I thought it was a oneshot, too, but sometimes those plotbunnies sneak up on you without your realizing it. The story's still set at "complete" because I can't think of anything else to add at the moment, but now that this one's been added there may be a few more. Nothing I can guarantee. I'm glad you found both Frodo and Sam (although the latter doesn't appear directly) in character with their dreams. There really is nothing more frightening for Sam than Frodo getting hurt! No need to apologize for any perceived neglect, by the way! Reality should always take precedence over the fanciful sub-sub-creations that reside here, and there is no such thing as a reader's obligation. Still, when you have the time I look forward to your commentary on the later developments in my tale, and I do hope that you will continue writing--and posting--when the fancy hits you! ~Celeritas

Author's reply

Frodo knows deep inside, but can't quite seem to grasp, that in that vision they're grieving over him. I still don't think Rosie is at the point where she can think of Mr. Frodo as a friend, but she does pity him and she knows she needs to look out for him for Sam. It's a good start for her future role in life. Thanks for reviewing!

Author's reply

It's interesting, isn't it, how we know so little about Rose from canon but try to make the same conclusions? Aside from the fact that she must be a character worthy of Sam's affection, she obviously must have been an excellent mother so I tried to put forth some of those qualities in this chapter--the shrewdness being one of them. I don't know, of course, when Frodo made his decision to sail--I imagine he'd put it off as long as he feasibly could--but compounded with whatever visions he's started having it must have been very frustrating because all of the sights have one thing in common: he's not there. But you're right, he's not ready to realize that yet.

Author's reply

Yup. I did (suddenly, too; you never know when those plotbunnies will bite) want to show from the other side how difficult this would be for Frodo, to try and open up to someone he hardly knows simply on virtue of the fact that he knows Sam loves her, and that he will marry her. As in the previous bit, though, better now than later.

Author's reply

Thank you! I'm glad you thought this was realistic--I find it hard to believe that Rosie would sit passively by and let Sam have his extended adventure without getting angry with someone.