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| In the Bleak, Cold Winter by GamgeeFest | 7 Review(s) |
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| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/22/2006 |
| So, Willow's aware of the presence of another love, and the two of them are willing to take a chance on one another anyway. At least all is open between them. And I so love Marigold and her caring and her explanations. Certainly Sam's worries about keeping Frodo and Merry from their usual work or pursuits is well in keeping with his nature--dear Hobbit that he is. Author Reply: Willow's very practical, as is Merry once he gets his head on straight. ;) They both realize there is little point in denying their attraction to each other because of a lass that Merry (at this time) has no chance with. Marigold is a jewel among sisters. Next to Tom, she is Sam's best friend and knows him better than just about anyone else. She approached Frodo for Sam's sake but she would have kept quiet also has Sam thought to ask her. That's her nature, nuturing and respectful, very much like her brother. Sam will never get used to the idea of his master 'doing' for him, even if he were to stay there a month or a year. He will mentally be calculating all the favors he'll owe Frodo once he's well again. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/13/2006 |
| Just getting that wooden box off will be a relief. I like seeing Sam engaged on domestic tasks like mending! And Marigold is perceptive - she has offered Sam comfort and let Frodo know that her brother is uncomfortable being hovered over too much. Willow and Merry ... it can't last! I hope she doesn't end up getting too hurt. Although it's good for Sam to see Merry being uncertain and vulnerable. Author Reply: He may only have to keep the box on for two days but he'll be wanting to toss it out the window by the time Willow returns the following afternoon. It's probably a good thing he's in a windowless room. :) It's usually the lasses that do the mending and such, but I can see Sam as having learned this valuable skill and putting it to good use, both in the garden and at home. If worse comes to worst, he can always mend clothes for a living! lol Goldie takes after her brother in many ways and she proves that here. She also has the advantage of being an objective observer. She might not know Frodo as well as Sam does but she isn't about to jump to the conclusion that his 'hovering' has anything to do with lack of trust. It helps her to get to the heart of the matter. No, it can't last and I'm actually quite disappointed about it. If only they weren't so perfectly suited for each other. Whatever happens, I think the inevitable outcome will be a mutual one - and they both stand equal chance of being hurt by it. Now that Merry has his lass, he'll start being his usual cocky self again. LOL But it was helpful for Sam to see that he does have that vulnerable side. | |
| Periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/12/2006 |
| “Then let’s give it a go,” Merry said with finality. “Let us see where the wind takes us.” Wow...that part of this chapter really surprised me. That is a strong move between those two...it's interesting how this little relationship will continue on... I love the Marigold and Sam interaction! I've always loved their loving relationship that they have with one another. :) And poor Sam with the heavy and annoying and uncomfortable cast! I can't wait till it gets off! Willow indeed is giving the harder news for Sam--saying that he might limp and such...i guess it's always good to predict or give the worse news first so that if it's better than expected, then it's better right? I also love your description of her....indeed she's a really pretty healer. :) Thank you for this latest plot filled chapter! Very awesome read. :) Author Reply: I do, upon occasion, fly in the face of fanon and make up my own stuff. LOL Merry and Estella are meant to be together but they are not ready for that relationship at this point in time. They both have some growing up to do and much to learn about themselves before they can become a couple, and the future Master and Mistress of Buckland. In the meantime, Merry and Willow will get to have some fun. Marigold does have a tendency to idolize and spoil her older brother. And Sam adores her equally in return. I always enjoy seeing the two together and how they interact. Sam can't wait to get rid of that cast either! At least it won't be so bad once the box is off and he can get up and move around a bit. Prepare them for the worst and hope for the best. It's a creedo that many doctors go by and I see Willow as finding this advice very practical. If the worst winds up happening, Sam will know what to expect. If the best happens, he'll be elated. He might not like the idea of being lame but Goldie and Willow both gave him much to think about. It wouldn't be the end for him by a long shot and knowing how stubborn he is, he will find something that he can do despite any limitations. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/11/2006 |
| I am looking forward to hearing this chat. I am glad that we have the difference between working class and 'gentle-hobbit' nursing highlighted and looking forward to seeing Willow and Merry exploring a possible link. She seems very wise and they should be good for each other. Author Reply: Whether they want to admit it or not, the class difference is always going to be an issue between these great friends. They can ignore it all they want but inevitably something like this happens - a miscommunication based on the simple fact that they both have different expectations. We'll see a little more of Willow, but any more Merry/Willow developments will likely wait for another story. She is a smart lass and she doesn't miss much. She'll keep Merry on his toes, a place he very much needs to be sometimes. ;) | |
| Althea | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/10/2006 |
| I am enjoying this story so much. I truly love how you have characterized Marigold. It was wonderful being able to listen in as she and Sam talked. Her frank analysis of what Sam could do if he did turn out to be lame is so typical of the Gamgee practicality. I got a kick out of her sending Sam the mending to do, and I adore the fact that Sam did it without a fuss. It just shows how the Gamgee family works together. I am glad aslo, that Marigold confided to Frodo Sam's concern that he was keeping him away from other things. I'm quite interested to see how things will progress with Merry and Willow. Author Reply: Marigold is a good sister and she tends to spoil Sam. She also doesn't hesitate to send him work to do when it needs doing. She has been busy with the Gaffer after all and she's bound to have got behind on some of her chores. Since Sam isn't doing anything anyway, he may as well help out! I wouldn't be surprised if more small tasks found their way up to him at Bag End. :) Goldie is good at putting Sam at ease, helping him understand that there are still plenty of things he can do if he can no longer garden. If it weren't for Sam's concern, or thinking that it was his fault, Marigold wouldn't have spoken with Frodo as she did. Merry and Willow are a good couple and I think they'll continue for awhile, but obviously they're not going to end up together. They're story will have to wait for another tale, but has been fun to see how they began. :) | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/10/2006 |
| Willow let out the breath she had been holding and smiled wide with relief. She bridged the remaining gap between them with another step. Heres to hoping we land somewhere favorable. They sealed their fates with a kiss. Awww! That's so sweet! I'm beginning to wish that Estella and Gordi had indeed married. Merry and Willow seem to be a perfect match. Goldie's visit was wonderful and helpful. With her practical hobbit sense she was able to explain to Frodo what Sam feared. Such customs haven't changed at all. In our time it would be still considered as luxury to stay all day long with someone who is ill. People have to work to earn their money. And I can very well understand that Sam felt uncomfortable! Now, I'm curious to find out what Frodo will tell Sam! Author Reply: Willow is certainly going to be good for Merry. He has a lot to learn about the lasses and she's just the one to teach him. It will be hard to break them up when the time comes though. I've grown rather attached to the two of them together myself. Goldie's just like her brother in many ways. Practical, simplistic but sharp. She knows her brother well and knows what is bothering him. She was fairly certain that it was just a miscommunication but she wanted to clarify it and maybe help her brother out in the meanwhile. She may not know Frodo as well as Sam does, but she has grown up listening to her brother telling her how wonderful Frodo is, so she was comfortable enough to approach Frodo on her brother's behalf. Sam just couldn't understand why Frodo or Merry were always in the room. If he weren't being so self-conscious still about his lecture from Frodo, then he would have eventually figured it out for himself, but as it is all he could see was that they didn't trust him enough to leave him on his own. Plus there's still the issue that they are his 'betters' and he doesn't want to be more of a hassle to them than he already is, not realizing that they would hardly consider caring for him to be a hassle. I'm sure Frodo will just explain things quite the same way he did to Marigold and come up with some sort of compromise. That's Frodo for you, always finding the middle ground. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/9/2006 |
| What fun it was to see the alert for this pop up tonight--new fic's been slow this weekend! Again, I have to compliment you on all the details that make the story come alive. I love the image of Merry polishing Bag End to death, trying to keep busy, LOL! Miss Willow's visit was a real revelation to everyone, not just Merry! Frodo realized she was serious about her interest in his cousin, and so did Sam, and Merry realized that if he were going to let Estella go, then he should try to find someone else. (Of course we know how that will work out, but still in the meantime, they may enjoy one another's company.) I loved Frodo's protective impulse about saying something to her, and his very wise realization that it was really none of his business, however much he cares about Merry. If it had been *Merry* wondering about a lass who was interested in *Pippin*--well, he would *not* have kept his nose out of it, I am sure, LOL! (Unless, of course, Frodo headed him off at the pass.) I'll be interested in finding out if Sam's going to visit his brother--and I'm puzzled with the little mystery regarding Halfred's letter. I enjoyed Marigold's visit--she's such a sweet and thoughtful sister! And rather discerning. I like the way you pointed out the difference in the way the gentry and the working class would behave with a sick or injured person! And I certainly look forward to a visit to Sam from Miss Rose Cotton! Author Reply: Merry should be in turmoil more often, if this is the result! He'll certainly earn those cinnamon rolls and apple crumble if he keeps this up. :D Willow doesn't kid around! She might tease mercilessly, but when she gets serious, she gets serious! I think Merry will learn a lot from her. She's got a good, sensible head on her shoulders and Merry needs someone like that right now. Estella will be benefiting from this later. She will have to thank Willow when the time comes. ;) hehe Yes I doubt that Merry would keep quiet about a lass that Pippin was interested in, even if it was only to pester Pippin mercilessly about it! Not that Pippin doesn't reciprocate. He'll be much disappointed that he missed this visit when Merry and Frodo tell him about it later. He'll have a lot of teasing and jesting to catch up on. :) And what is up with that letter? It's one of those quirky details that come out of nowhere. I'm sure the usual messenger was probably just sick or unavailable. We'll have to wait and see about Sam going to visit Fred. He'll have to do *something* while they're gone, if he can't go. Maybe stay with Daisy, most likely. Marigold is much like her brother, in that's she observant and practical. She was comfortable enough with Frodo to approach him on her brother's behalf and get to the heart of the problem. Her suspicions that is was a miscommunication was correct, but if it had still been a trust issue, I'm sure she would have had words to say to Frodo about that also - had she been able to work up the nerve to say them. And Rosie will be more than happy to play healer to Sam. :D | |