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New Roads and Secret Gates  by Citrine 6 Review(s)
InklingReviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/30/2006
This is beautiful, Citrine...both for the sentiments expressed and for the simple, graceful way you expressed them. I love the small touches, like Sam’s embroidered handkerchief. And the final paragraph is just perfect!

Author Reply: Wow, thanks Inkling! I'm glad it wasn't too simple-sometimes I worry that I might be putting readers to sleep with my attempt at Tolkien-y prose:o)

Author Reply: Hey there, Inkling, I'm technologically handicapped and I couldn't seem to contact you any other way than like this-hope it gets through!-but I saw that you asked me about a MEFA nom for On the Way Home. The answer is yes, feel free to nominate it, (though I almost feel a bit guilty, I've kind of fallen out of the fandom.) Anyway, if you have any questions or anything else you want to ask, come on over to my lj:o) http://citrine2.livejournal.com/

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/24/2006
Orion is most easily seen in the winter months, but that doesn't mean it had to be so in the days of Middle Earth. But I love the imagery here. I am so glad the three of them were able to come home together, and not alone.

Author Reply: Thanks Larner:o) Weeelll, I think I'm just going to give up and pretend that Orion would be visible at that time period in Middle earth, even if it wasn't. I'll fall back on the old stand-by 'poetic license'.

And yeah, I'm glad Tolkien did that, letting them go back home together. It was a little balm for my wounded heart after the Havens.

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/20/2006
Greetings to Citrine. I have read some of your work before, I do not believe I have reviewed any yet. This is a sweet little piece. i do indeed agree that the friendship between Sam and the other two would have deepened and strengthened, both during the Quest and after. Sam would have always treated them with respect, but as he came to know his own worth apart from class and birth, I am sure he would never again consider himself unworthy to just be their friend, not their servant.
Concerning Orion. i live in Idaho, at about the 45th parralel north. Here Orion first rises above the horizon in late August, and remains visible, progressing across the Southern sky from East to West, for most of the winter. England is suppossed to "be" the Shire, and is a bit farther North than I am, I believe. but I am still sure that your Hobbits would have been able to see Orion in the late autumn when Frodo left. Again, I enjoyed this piece.

Author Reply: Thanks Demeter! I saw all your reviews in my inbox, and wow, I was floored.
Now that'sdedication! It's always surprising-and very flattering-to see reviews for stories that have been around for a while. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

And thanks for the info about the constellation. I was reasonably sure the hobbits would be able to see Orion, but hey, it's always nice to have a second opinion:o)

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/19/2006
Imagine Pippin being tactful and keeping out of the conversation for so long! It is good to see Sam and Merry really accepting their friendship and overcoming the son-of-the-Master/son-of-the-gardener divide. In some ways Merry really needs Sam's friendship. Sam's qualities of loyalty and solid reliability and staunchness will do him good.

Author Reply: Thanks Bodkin! Yes, I like to think that Sam really became the greatest of friends to Merry and Pippin in the years afterward. But he had to make that kind of social leap upward himself, so he's really being very brave there. As I've said before, not that Merry and Pippin would have ever cared about 'Sam's place', especially after the Quest. They know the kind of great, heroic, selfless hobbit he really is.

Well, my inner unwritten background info tells me he was asleep...for about five minutes;o) But then his backside was roasting and the tip of his nose was freezing off, which woke him up. Then Tookish curiousity took over and he kept quiet so he could eavesdrop. Curiousity killed the Took...or in this case, made him a bit wibbly.

And wow, listen to me ramble. Thanks again, Bodkin:o)

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/19/2006
This is a wonderful tale, Citrine! I love Merry and Sam growing closer and I love that Pippin ended up listening. A wonderful story indeed.

You got me curious (I am after all a Took) and I tried to find when Orion is seen. Now, this being my favorite constellation I have my own opinion as well, but the two sites I found that gave times of first and best viewing said he first shows in December and is best viewed in January. However, some of that depends on your distance north from the equator and the time of night. I know I have seen him as early as late October - early November but in the early morning hours, near to dawn, and low in the sky. The best viewing time they listed in January was 9:00 PM when he is centered high in the southern sky. September might be pushing it, but then again I think Middle-earth is more compact than the continents are now. From the maps it is pre-continental shift and at that point everything in the north was closer to the equator than it is now, so I think your having Orion visable in September is fine :)

Author Reply: September might be pushing it, but then again I think Middle-earth is more compact than the continents are now. From the maps it is pre-continental shift and at that point everything in the north was closer to the equator than it is now, so I think your having Orion visable in September is fine :)

Thank you, Pearl!! That was one of those teeny things I couldn't really resolve to my own satisfaction, so it was really bugging me. I live in a rural area and when the sky is clear it seems like I can see Orion every night for months on end if I care to look, although after a certain point he's low in the sky and trees are in the way.

Now if anyone ever says "I like your story, but..." I can copy/paste from your review: "See this? I beg to differ, so neener-neener.";o)

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/18/2006
This was lovely but very sad. I've often wondered about that journey home and how they managed it. All that singing seemed a bit unlikely somehow. :-))

I enjoyed the tentative relationship between Merry and Sam, and dear Sam promising to be a friend. The future Master could have no better friend than Sam. And Pippin's little bit at the end was so sweet and touching. *wibble*
A poignant look at a very sad moment for our hobbits.

Author Reply: Thanks, BB! Oh, they're still on the Downs, not quite home yet. Plenty of time for singing:o)

And you know, this was supposed to just about Merry and Sam, but darned if Pippin didn't decide to put in his two cents, bless his heart. Thanks for reading!

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