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Reunion by Larner	11 Review(s)
AspenJules	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/9/2006
My goodness, Larner... I think I went through about half a box of tissues reading up to this point! Every time another person came to say goodbye I'd start to weep again... I can only imagine what it was like for poor Sam. No wonder he felt he just couldn't do it anymore, though I can understand how hurt Marigold would be by his leaving without saying goodbye. If it wasn't for Rosie's strongly expressed wishes, I don't think he could have done it, even for his beloved Master. This is really beautifully done.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/30/2006
Ah, I have to say, my heart just went out to poor Marigold--that her brother had planned to slip off without a farewell had to hurt so much. Their encounter was truly touching. Author Reply: This time Marigold is going to say a proper goodbye, and my own heart has gone out to both of them, for I empathize with both.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/30/2006
Even if I can understand he couldn’t endure more goodbyes, it was not truly fair of Sam not to say farewell to his sister, the more so as she has a husband who is of even worse health than she and they are not able to travel easily. It is sad Marigold had to come after him, and I am glad she caught up with him and was able to talk a last time to him. Now I hope that was the last farewell – this story is increasing my consumption of tissues quite a bit sniff Author Reply: No, it wasn't fair, but Sam is already under a great deal of stress. I'm just glad she caught up with him, myself. I really ought to buy stock in a company that produces tissue! Am so glad this chapter moved you so.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/29/2006
“It was love of him as took me out of the Shire the first time and across the known world and all through Mordor. It was love of him as brought me to where I could find the other brother of my heart sittin’ in the corner of the Prancin’ Pony in Bree, and showed me the bright shadows of where I’m goin’ now as lingered here in the Mortal Lands. It was love of him as helped me understand as to why I’d always loved the stories of Elves and all, and appreciate that I belong not just to the Shire but to the whole world. It was love of him as taught me to leave my fear behind me, and to just go on and do what needed doin’ with no hope of seein’ after, just ’cause it needed doin’ or all would fail. “I need that bit of my heart back, Goldy. You understand, don’t you? I could live for so long with half a heart; but with Rosie gone too now, I don’t even have that any more. To be ready--truly ready--to go on, I need what he holds. You know, I’d always thought as I give him that half of my heart ’cause I’d had it inside me from the start. It’s only recent I’ve realized as I only had it inside me ’cause he give it to me first to begin with.” He looked off toward the doorway. “He had heart enough for the entire world he did, and I did my best to hold that part for him durin’ our journey so as it’d stay safe of what the Ring was doin’ to the rest of it. But it wasn’t enough--not enough to sustain him--not as long as he stayed here.” She nodded. “You know what the Gaffer always said, Sam--as those as is the best tend to die young--their hearts start gettin’ bruised so easy for they’re so large and exposed to begin with, and it takes it out of them when the bruisin’ starts happenin’. He was one of those, after all.” Sam swallowed. “Yes, that he was. That he was.” What beautiful tributes to Frodo! I hope at least in heaven he got to know how many lives he affected so profoundly, even those who weren't even born before he left, but who loved him because Sam loved him and told of him. This should be quite a reunion! :) Namarie, God bless, Antane Author Reply: I am so glad you appreciate it, Antane. And I suspect that when they reach the Presence they'll both realize how very deeply that love was honored everywhere.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/29/2006
Oh Larner, that was beautiful! How do you do that? You put so much into one chapter, it's really amazing. I would very much like to quote the whole chapter, but ... well, it's already there ;-) Only this: But when he went aboard the ship at the last, there with old Gandalf, you could see the easin’ coming to him right away--that last smile, the one what made you know he was one to love with the whole of his heart, what made it worth it to see him go away, knowin’ as he’d finally be able to smile like that all the time and not just at odd moments when aught could get past the pain. "To smile like that all the time", that I do not wish only for Frodo, but also for Sam to come true, and for Marigold, when the last reunion takes place! BTW, I really glad that hobbits all over Shire were named after Frodo, but who is Frodovacar? Somehow, that name sounds quite familiar. Author Reply: Yes, the two of them both deserve to smile like that, both Frodo and Sam; and it will leave quite the legacy in Tol Eressea, the memory of two small, shining beings busily sharing all they can before they go and smiling their joy for all. Odovacar was Freddy Bolger's dad; and I think it was Lindelea who indicated that Freddy had threatened to name his own child after Frodo, but he would make it a proper Bolger name; and I had to slip that into here. (It may have been Baylor, also, I guess, or someone else whose stories I was reading before I began writing. Wish I could remember for certain.) That in naming his son Fredegar would end up honoring one of his favorite cousins as well as Frodo seemed fitting. It's only relatives now who are naming their children for Frodo; but who knows? Maybe one day, with few realizing why, Frodo will be as common a name as Tom or Daisy! Thanks for the response, Andrea.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/29/2006
Poor Marigold. I hope that she doesn't suffer too much for that journey. But what a wonderful farewell. To go knowing how much you are loved and love in return is a wonderful gift for all. Author Reply: And they all needed it, and to see the love between sister and brother at this point. It's easy to remember the progeny but forget the age-mates and siblings; and I suspect there was a deep love between the two youngest of the Gaffer and Bell's own children.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/29/2006
I can see why Sam just couldn't cope with any more goodbyes. But I'm still glad Marigold caught up with him. And now - I suspect it will be a relief to him that he is past the point of no return. (And possibly a relief to those who remain behind, too.) Author Reply: Yes, I can see it also, Bodkin. He must have been increasingly stressed as again and again he must say goodbye, and with thirteen children and the number of grandchildren he must have had also, that made for a LOT of goodbyes. But there must have been a few he missed, and so I let Marigold stand for those, to remind him that he's had an impact on almost everyone in the Shire. I sure agree on how everyone will feel some level of relief when he's gond completely, and particularly him, although it will also be a great wrench.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2006
Oh, how does this do it to me every single time? I cried through this whole chapter--and not just over the farewells but the "little" things like this, that I know so well I could tell them to anyone who asked, just as if they'd always been part of the story. "After the first night, when they fixed a bed for him always there was somethin’ behind him to help him sit up some, for it was gettin’ right hard for him to breathe. Only thing as kept him from givin’ over, I think, was he didn’t wish for me to see him die--not then. We paused, there the last time, near where the monument is now. We rested some, and Lord Elrond had me give him the last draught. Didn’t know as what he was lookin’ at, for his gaze was distant and his face quiet. He come back alert for me, and did his best to remain so the last bit of the way, but you could see as it was an effort. But when he went aboard the ship at the last, there with old Gandalf, you could see the easin’ coming to him right away--that last smile, the one what made you know he was one to love with the whole of his heart, what made it worth it to see him go away, knowin’ as he’d finally be able to smile like that all the time and not just at odd moments when aught could get past the pain." Let's see--that must be in more stories than it isn't, and it still makes me cry. Every time. “Once you go,” she said quietly, “there’ll be but me and our May left of the six of us. To lose Jolly two years past in that accident, and now Rosie and you----” She gave a shuddering breath. “I know as it’s time and all, but I still feel as you ought to be by me forever as you’ve always been.” I guess this is a world of change--sometimes bitter change. And it always will be, in spite of our wishes and our feeble mortal efforts. Sam’s eyes had filled with tears, and he reached out and put his arms about her, arms which remained strong and sheltering. “Oh, little sister,” he murmured, “but I’ve treated you terrible. Can you forgive me? Please? It’s just I’ve had so many, many goodbyes to be said, so many to comfort, so many to assure as I’ll still love them no matter as how far away I might go and what might happen to my body and all. You’ve been a rock to me, you know. You’ve been the one whose love I’ve never had to question or reassure. Guess as I forgot your heart bruises just as easy as anyone else’s. I’ll never, never stop lovin’ you any more’n I can ever stop lovin’ Rosie or any of the bairns or the Shire itself or Lord Strider or--or him. It’s been so long since I saw him--so long. I need to find him afore I go the last bit of the way, and I’m afeared as that won’t be all that long. “It was love of him as took me out of the Shire the first time and across the known world and all through Mordor. It was love of him as brought me to where I could find the other brother of my heart sittin’ in the corner of the Prancin’ Pony in Bree, and showed me the bright shadows of where I’m goin’ now as lingered here in the Mortal Lands. It was love of him as helped me understand as to why I’d always loved the stories of Elves and all, and appreciate that I belong not just to the Shire but to the whole world. It was love of him as taught me to leave my fear behind me, and to just go on and do what needed doin’ with no hope of seein’ after, just ’cause it needed doin’ or all would fail." That is the most beautiful passage in the chapter, and the most poignant. Dear Sam--some things don't change, and one of those seems to be his strong, solid, loving, protecting presence. "And when you see him again, Sam-Dad, tell him I remember. I may only remember how he looked from the statues and pictures Master Ruvemir made and the one by Master Iorhael, but I’ll never forget his love, and how he’d sing to me and whisper to me in Quenya and Sindarin. Let him know I’ll never stop loving him back, please, Sam-Dad. And let him know the stories will always be told, always and forever." Oh, to have such memories...She's so blessed, for not many would remember. She was only six months old when he left, after all. But now you've fed the plot bunny that's been hanging around for a while, and if I can just find time to write it before I go...sigh So much to do and two weeks left to do it in... God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: So, I've fed a plot bunny, have I? Look forward to seeing it in the future. No matter how careful Sam was, there must have been a few people he didn't get the chance to say goodbye to, and so Marigold stands for those. He's 102, and he, May, and Marigold were the three youngest. It was possible those two would have survived him had he stayed and died naturally in Middle Earth; that they'd feel upset to have him go seemed right somehow. As in The King's Commission I've indicated that Sam used Marigold as his personal copyist and had her copy the Red Book for Ruvemir, she would definitely know the entire story and probably passed it on to her own family. He married Rosie and she married Tom; the Cottons and the Gamgees/Gardners are very closely tied, and she'd realize their generation is now dying off, and it would undoubtedly cause particularly Marigold a great deal of grief to not be able to bid this, her closest sibling, farewell. As for Elanor--she's always been the special child, the one Frodo knew personally, the one he lavished his love on, knowing she'd be the only one he'd be able to do this for, once she'd come. The little Elven/Hobbit changeling with two father figures. That Frodo-lad got Bag End but Elanor got the Red Book is telling. Frodo may be expected to carry on the tradition as lord of the manor; but she is the executor of Frodo and Sam's literary estates, the historian for what happened. And am so very glad this chapter moved you so deeply, for it was moving even to write it.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2006
Well, if that isn't the most loving and heartbreaking and wondrous leave-taking ever! I'm all weepy now. This is such a lovely legacy for Frodo... when he went aboard the ship at the last, there with old Gandalf, you could see the easin’ coming to him right away--that last smile, the one what made you know he was one to love with the whole of his heart, what made it worth it to see him go away, knowin’ as he’d finally be able to smile like that all the time He had heart enough for the entire world he did, and I did my best to hold that part for him durin’ our journey so as it’d stay safe of what the Ring was doin’ to the rest of it. I may only remember how he looked from the statues and pictures Master Ruvemir made and the one by Master Iorhael, but I’ll never forget his love, and how he’d sing to me and whisper to me in Quenya and Sindarin. Let him know I’ll never stop loving him back, please, Sam-Dad. And let him know the stories will always be told, always and forever sigh Author Reply: Thank you, Shirebound. Thank you so much.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2006
It must have been hard for Sam's children to say goodbye, but I feel Elanor has great understanding.I'm glad she was given a sign. Author Reply: It must have indeed been hard on those left behind, but they knew it was now or never for their father. Am so glad you appreciated that Elanor and those with her knew when Sam left Middle Earth.

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