News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Light from the West by Armariel | 3 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 9/5/2006 |
| Oh dear. Bilbo can't stay for ever - and he's clearly getting ready to go - but Frodo will miss him, even if it does mean that his little sea-girl will turn up. Good to have this peaceful time to reminisce and acknowledge what they have always meant for each other. I liked the farewell picnic. The fragility of Bilbo's hold on life must be distressingly clear to his friends. I like the thought of Frodo being able to talk to him as he does to Sam. Author Reply: Yes...I think the Elves knew his time was at hand. And I don't think he really wants to go, but he knows his time has come, and maybe there's a part of him that does want to swap his creaky old body for a new model, and so forth. Frodo will need to grieve a good while--I think Tolkien said he loved Bilbo best of all--but he knows he can't keep Bilbo with him forever and he will be comforted eventually. And this interval will help him through the loss, along with his surety of meeting Bilbo again...and he has many loving friends to buoy him up. And of course, the sea-girl will help immensely, as I'm sure Rosie and Elanor helped Sam! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 9/4/2006 |
| “You’re the fairest thing I ever saw, you are. Like a white gem full of the star-light. Like that thing that hangs around your neck, only bigger and brighter and fairer.” “Do you remember when you first came to live at Bag End?” Bilbo sits up a little straighter. “That was the happiest day of my life. Don’t know if I ever told you that before, Frodo-lad. But it’s the day I most fondly remember. You lit all the lamps in Bag End, just as you lit that one.” “I do remember lighting the lamps now. I asked you if I could do it, and you said yes.” Bilbo takes my hand and holds it to his cheek. “You do remember. You looked so happy. And you made up the fire and fixed tea and everything. You fairly took over the place that night. Do you know, little Samwise once asked me if you were a prince. The first time he ever saw you, after you’d gone, he asked me that.” “And you told him I was, didn’t you, Uncle?” I feel tears starting in my eyes, even as I chuckle. “I told him you were my prince, and that was plenty good enough. He fell in love with you at first sight, you know. You were his prince too.” I snuggle closer. “I wish I could see him now.” “So do I, my dear boy. So do I.” “I wish it every day,” I say. “But most especially now.” “You’ll see him someday,” Bilbo says very softly. “It will be a long time…but he will come. I wish it could be sooner, but wishing won’t make it so. I’ll content myself with knowing he will come when it’s his time.” What a lovely, fascinating chapter! I could quote more but I'd end up quoting the whole thing so I'll just stop here. These are some very interesting insights on what death and what heaven will be like and how hard it would be to come back if one saw the glory to come. Poor Frodo. I think it was St. Catherine of Siena who had the same experience of being sent back and she cried her eyes out. But then she too had a mission to perform. May we all have the courage to say goodbye and have that opportunity to be with them as long as possible so they don't die alone, even though they must take those final steps themselves. More like this, please! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Thanks, so glad you like it! Yes, this is the part I've dreaded writing, where I'd have to let Bilbo go--for the third time, yet! Well, the fourth, if you count "Chiseled in Stone" but his passing is far different in that one, it being AU. But sooner or later, it had to come. I've heard many accounts of "crossing over" and being sent back, and there are striking similarities to all. I might have taken them with a grain of salt if I hadn't heard some from people I actually knew. And all were in agreement that they did not want to come back, even though they had families who would have been devastated by their loss. And I suppose that would be hard, if not impossible to understand if one hadn't had the same experience. But I think I do understand at least in part. And I suspect that those who are sent back do have some sort of unfinished business to take care of. Frodo will grieve, of course, but he will be comforted. Iluvatar isn't done with him yet! blessings Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 9/3/2006 |
| "And we believe in the communion of the saints, and the Light Everlasing...." I've known consolation at times from those who'd left here, and have rejoiced in it; and Frodo will know the same consolation. Doesn't mean we won't know loneliness, but we can know peace and surety. Author Reply: Yes. He'll have to grieve for a while, but he will have comfort in his mortality and the knowledge that he will be able to take his place among the company of the blessed one day. In the meantime he'll have plenty of living to do! | |