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| Number Three, Bagshot Row by GamgeeFest | 7 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| nancylea57 | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 12/5/2008 |
| goody sams going to get to read. Author Reply: Which Hamfast will have to admit is quite useful at times. ;) | |
| Elf Friend | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/23/2006 |
| Aw, that was a tug on the ol' heartstrings! The Gamgees are so awesome! *hugs them all* I've been planning on writing a story about Sam and his mom for a while and this just might have given me the kick in the butt that I need. :) I love Fred's and Frodo's determination to have Sam learn. He's so lucky to have those two around to fight for him! :) I also liked how you made it clear how much the Gaffer loved Bell. It's so sad that she died so soon. :( Congrats on this awesome addition to the GamgeeFest Archives! :) I eagerly await the next story!! Author Reply: This did get a bit more angsty than I thought it would; it was only a matter of time before some angst managed to sneak it's way into this series. ;) Good luck with your story! I look forward to it. :) Long before Sam was protecting Frodo on the Quest, Frodo was looking out for Sam. Frodo sees Sam as not only a friend, but as a replacement of sorts for the close bond he had with Merry before moving out of Brandy Hall to live in Hobbiton. Gaffer always wanted to do right by his wife as much as he could. Halfred's persistance was just what he needed to get him to see this last wish through to the end. I wish that my Bell could have lived a little longer also, but I have my reasons for placing her death so early in Sam's life. Thanks so much for reading and for the review! :) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/23/2006 |
| Good for Halfred. He found the right argument in the end. The Gaffer couldn't argue with it - not and remain honest with himself. Sam is such a sweetie - I loved him holding onto his brother at the beginning. And his pride in his slate. Bilbo will find him a delightfully enthusiastic student, to whom the chance to learn means so much. Author Reply: Halfred wasn't about to give up. That, as much as everything else, is part of the reason that Gaffer finally caved in. Had Halfred figured out the solution sooner, it wouldn't have had quite the same resonance if Gaffer hadn't seen just how much it meant to Halfred for Sam to learn. He really couldn't argue, not after he told Halfred the truth of the matter, and he'll come to pride Sam's learning in time. Sam is just the sweetest hobbit there is. Sleeping in that bed all by himself must have been terribly lonely for him and that's likely the only reason Halfred won't be apprenticed off for another year or so, to give Sam time to grow up a bit more and get accustomed to the idea. That slate was the best gift Sam had ever gotten up to this point and he was very proud of it. He's likely to wear Bilbo out with his thirst for knowledge. ;) Thanks for reading! | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/23/2006 |
| There are so many variations in fanfic of how the Gaffer might have been persuaded to let Sam learn to read, but this is one of the most poignant. No wonder Hal wanted it so much! The brief description of Bell's last days had me fighting tears. Poor kids! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I've read quite a few of those variations myself and I was tempting to use Frodo's argument for making the Gaffer cave in at last (it was inspired by one of the variations that I've read) but, as Halfred pointed out, those blasted post messengers just made that argument impossible. Up to the very point of Gaffer's confession, I really had no clue how this was going to resolve itself and I was beginning to fear that Sam might never get to learn to read! I haven't done a story about Bell's death yet, simply because I don't think even I can handle that much angst. This brief glimpse was sad enough, but it does make it clear why Halfred would want to see his mother's wishes fulfilled, especially after he learns the reason that Bell wanted it in the first place. Thanks for reading and for all your lovely reviews! :) | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/23/2006 |
| GF, your Halfred is perfectly wonderful! What a marvelous big brother he was, and so persistant, as well! I love the way that Frodo reacted, too, completely supportive of Halfred, even though Bilbo had to be all correct about things. And--yes--what would Bell have wanted and why did she want it? Once he hit on that particular argument, he was bound to win. Very sweet story! Author Reply: Halfred is the picture of Gamgee stubbornness. He wasn't about to give up finding a solution and so I had to keep on writing even though I had no idea what the solution was! Frodo wanted to see Sam learn just as much as Halfred did, but the real clincher for him was hearing that it had been Bell's wish. Having lost his own mother so young (and at nearly the same age as Halfred was when Bell died), Frodo would understand Fred's desire to fulfill one his mother's last wishes. Bell had a valid reason for wanting all the children to learn their letters, and it's easy to see why she held on for so long on Sam being allowed to learn. The Gaffer might have been able to dismiss her concerns while she lived, and afterward, he had more important things to worry about, but now he really cannot argue that what she was worried about is unlikely to happen. It's already happened, to a degree. He just needed Halfred's not-so-gentle prodding to get him to admit to that. Thanks for reading! | |
| Julie | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/23/2006 |
| This was an absolutely lovely little story & my favorite of the Gamgee series, I think. Your idea of why it was Sam who got to learn his letters was brilliant and extremely well-done. I've always wondered why exactly it was Sam out of the Gaffer's 6 kids that was the only one (that we know of) to learn to read & write. I never really speculated the why's or where's of this, but apparently, you have. You covered all of the bases & made a very sound argument as to why it was Sam, thus creating a very plausible & thouroughly enjoyable tale. Little Sam practicing his name unbeknownst all this time was the clincher and so adorbale to picture as well. Namarie! Author Reply: I've been trying to figure out for months now why exactly Gaffer would let Bilbo teach Sam his letters, and even when I started writing this story I still didn't have the answer, which is why this was originally going to just be about Sam's first reading lesson, *after* the Gaffer was talked into it. But Halfred was truly persistant and made me write this story, even though I was as stumped as he was for a solution and I was sincerely hoping those other gardeners and workers would come up with one. Those blasted post messengers indeed! I wanted to strangle them by the time Halfred was moping by the river. And as it turns out, Gaffer had the exact reason he needed the whole time! I can well imagine Sam sneaking out that slate and chalk and writing his name for practice every time he had the chance. He'll make the most studious pupil Bilbo has ever taught. Thanks for reading and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! :) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/22/2006 |
| This is marvelous. Halfred is as determined, intelligent, and caring about his family as anyone ever has been. What a wonderful brother, and I'm so happy this turned out as it did! I can well imagine every word of this taking place. Author Reply: Halfred may be the self-proclaimed "trouble maker" of the bunch, but his heart is always in the right place. He wants nothing more than to see all his siblings (and his dad) have everything they could ask for. Even though he knows that isn't a practical possibility, he wanted Sam to have this chance and he eventually found the way to make it happen. Thanks for reading! | |