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Dreamflower's Mathoms I by Dreamflower	7 Review(s)
Kaylee Arafinwiel	Reviewed Chapter: 63 on 1/24/2021
O my dearest Dreamflower, thank you for sending me back to this ficlet! I can't recall if I reviewed it before - I hope I have, but if not, I am now. Dear, dear Sam, and all the family, what a disaster - I'm so sorry for Sam, Marigold, and all their sibs, but oh, the Gaffer must feel as though he's had half his heart ripped out! This explains why he would give over being gardener with Sam still so young. The work would be hard for him, shaken as he was, and it would give Sam something to steady him and focus his mind, plus more time with his beloved Master Frodo. I can't recall what 'apoplexy' is - a stroke? I hope Bell's death was, at least, painless for her. Also, how good of Bilbo to ensure the Gaffer and Bell's older sons would know sooner rather than later! Aunt Dora would approve!! (How is Aunt Dora, by the way?) Hugs, Kaylee

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 63 on 4/24/2006
wipes eyes I don't know of many who are brave enough to attempt this, but I don't know why. It's just heartbreaking, but that's something Frodo and Sam share, and that is, I think, part of what strengthened their friendship. "...a friendship cemented in compassion." I love the way you said that! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I don't know about "brave"--but it was something that had to be dealt with. Some writers have Bell die in childbirth when Marigold is born, or shortly after; some have her still alive almost until the Quest. JRRT never says so in so many words, but it is so clearly obvious that the Gaffer was a widower when the story opens. I am glad that you like my take on the subject.

Gryffinjack	Reviewed Chapter: 63 on 11/17/2005
This was so sad! We usually don't really give it much thought, but Sam has indeed lost his mother. So have Boromir and Aragorn for that matter. But for the hobbits, to whom family means everything, it must have really been a hard blow for Sam. "Frodo felt his world reel. Bell Gamgee, who had been so kind to him, Sam’s mother--snatched away all unexpected, as his own mother and father had been. He caught at the edge of the door, and feeling his knees give way, he slid down to sit upon the floor, as he felt the blood leave his face. ... ...Sam sat on the floor against the wall, his face white and pinched, a mask of misery. He stared blankly, seeing nothing." The similarity in reactions you strike is so astounding and so poignant. It may have been Sam's mother that had just died, but it must have brought Frodo back to Buckland standing on by the banks of the Brandywine River watching his parents' bodies being brought out of its cold, heartless depths. Even with all those relatives around and ever after, it seems that at least some part of Frodo was always alone. Really, Frodo is the perfect one to comfort him, just as you said. He knows first hand what it is like to lose a parent, or in Frodo's case, two. This understanding between them would definitely help cement their strong friendship. Sure, Sam is his gardener and employee, but he is much more than that. This was a very special story. Author Reply: JRRT never gives a DOB or DOD for Bell Gamgee. We do know that the Gaffer is a widower by the end of the Quest. I have seen any number of takes on it: that she died when Marigold is born or shortly thereafter; that she dies not long before or after Frodo comes to Bag End; that she died of the mistreatment from the Ruffians during the Occupation of the Shire. I chose to think that she lived until just before Bilbo left the Shire--that she had been a warm and guiding presence throughout Sam's formative years, and had been there for Frodo as well, when he came to Bag End a lonely and confused orphan. I have also and often seen her suffering from a long wasting illness. I just couldn't do that to her, and so had her die very suddenly and unexpectedly. I think you are the only one who caught the similarity in the two grief-stricken reactions. I wanted to clearly show, that, yes, Frodo does indeed know exactly how Sam feels. And yes, he can and will comfort him, and he will ever and always be more than Sam's employer. He'll be his dearest friend and brother at heart. Thank you.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 63 on 8/12/2005
Yes, much as I'd envisioned it, too. The sudden increase in responsibility and decrease in time spent with his friend, a friendship which yet continued to grow in spite of all. Author Reply: That's it exactly. Sam, as he took on the job full time, and grew nearer to coming of age himself began to try and meet the expectations of being a "proper" hobbit--which did not include being close friends with the gentry. Fortunately for Sam the gentry in question never doubted his true friendship, nor gave up trying to erase the distance and tear down the wall. Love, loyalty and courage, of course, won out in the end over stuffiness and propriety. And it was, I think, the times of sympathy and sharing, that held Sam back from truly trying to maintain his "proper" distance.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 63 on 8/12/2005
"But underneath it all, that understanding of shared pain remained, a friendship cemented in compassion." Dreamflower, this story is a little gem! They both have had the same sad experience, but they are able to share their pain now and to give comfort: Frodo to Sam and Sam to Frodo. And that creates the strong bond and the wonderful friendship between them! Thank you :) Author Reply: Well, I think of course, that they already had a strong friendship, but that sharing, that time of empathy, made it so very much stronger that in spite of Sam's efforts to be a "proper" gardener, the friendship still survived, and his loyalty in following Frodo to the mountain was the result.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 63 on 8/11/2005
Certainly Frodo would understand best! He did a very good job with Sam! The emotion really shone through in this piece and had me weeping right along with poor Sam! Thank you for the story! Author Reply: You are welcome, dear. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 63 on 8/11/2005
This was a sweetly beautiful and sad story, Dreamflower. I've always loved Bell and I think she must have been around in Sam's life for a while, because he is so well balanced and caring. I love the fact that Frodo knows how Sam is feeling, and I'm sure this was just one of the incidents which drew Farodo and Sam closer. Thank you for this - can never have too any hobbit tales. Author Reply: Yes, my idea is that she was around until just before Bilbo left, as you can see. I know some authors have her die in childbirth with Marigold, or have her die of a lengthy illness when Sam is quite young. But, like you, I think he had her influence for a long time before she was lost; and as to the manner of her death, I decided on quick and painless. "Apoplexy" was used for both a stroke and an aneurism--it came on so suddenly, and in those days was often immediately fatal. Since, in spite of the fact that JRRT makes it obvious that the Gaffer is a widower by the time of the Queast, he gives no DOD for Bell, that leaves it up to us. Frodo does know how Sam feels, none better. This had to make for a special closeness between them. No, never enough! I hope to see an update of your Sam's birthday fic soon--hinthint--I can never get enough of "Reunion-verse".

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