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In the Bleak, Cold Winter by GamgeeFest	8 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2006
No, Sam's cooking won't go to waste, although it might go to WAIST! Ah, our devious Brandybuck here! And love Sam's carvings. Author Reply: hehehe I knew someone would fill in that pun for me! Merry doesn't waste time, knowing how short his time with Willow is. Sam made good use of his time also and took advantage of his convalescence to get some whittling done. It's fitting of his nature that he would make things to give to his friends.

Periantari	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2006
“There’s my good lad,” Hamfast mumbled into Sam’s ear. “Darn bones kept me from coming sooner. Worst time for a snow storm if you ask me.” He turned his head and kissed Sam’s temple. I loved the Hamfast and the Sam reunion...very sweet! and the Marigold and Sam little bantering was wonderful to read too because i love sibling love and i love reading about Marigold and Sam's relationship. :) I loved the healer bit with checking Sam's condition with his foot and knowing that it's time that Sam could use crutches. Very nice details in writing that part. lol! i loved this part and really cracked up with this line: “My guess is slim to none,” Frodo answered. “Most likely, he’ll be cooking second breakfast, luncheon and dinner for a month to make up for the last eight days.” lol! awww~ indeed he will after his trip to see his new granddaughter--(provided that he's all healed. :) Author Reply: Hamfast is a real softy and I love these little moments when his gruffness is put aside. He adores all his children, and I believe Sam is probably his favorite, though he would never admit it. It was time to let him visit Sam, and honestly, I couldn't have kept him home any longer if I wanted to! Sibling banter is always fun, especially among the Gamgee clan. They relied on each other so much growing up that they are closer to each other than most other siblings are. Sam and Marigold have a very close relationship and are best friends, next to Tom and Rosie. LOL. I can just see Sam cooking like a mad hobbit to make up for all the attention and care that Frodo provided for him. Sam has a grandchild? However did he manage that? :P hehe

cookiefleck	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/1/2006
I really enjoyed this chapter, particularly the various ways you described the Gaffer's (and other family members') eagerness to have Sam come home. Sigh. On another note, I am not sure if you meant it to be humorous, but I took this line that way and had a great, little laugh: “Fascinating,” Frodo intoned... Author Reply: There's nothing worse for a parent than to know your child is hurt and in need of comfort and not being able to offer it. It's no surprise really that Gaffer insisted on visiting Sam even if he would be home in a couple more days. They'll all be happier and more at ease now that Sam can go home. hehehe I didn't mean for that to be funny, but I'm glad you found it so. I actually had to make Frodo hurry up and change the subject because Merry was on the verge of asking if he could expirement with Sam's leg. He wouldn't have been allowed to do so, of course, but it still would have been highly inappropriate for him to have asked. grins

Althea	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/1/2006
It was wonderful to see Sam having so many loving visitors. It was a treat to see him interacting with Daisy's family, especially with his little niece, Bell. I also very much enjoyed reading about the Gaffer's visit. Hamfast's gruff love for his youngest son just melted my heart. I am very glad that Sam is now well enough to go home and that he will be able to travel with his family to see its newsest member; but I can't help but wish he could stay at Bag End a while longer and that maybe, by some miracle, those calss barriers could come crashing down. I am so much enjoying this story. Now that everyone is going separate ways, it will be interesting to see what you have in store for us next. I am looking forward to reading more. Author Reply: Sam won't be lacking company while he's healing. There will always be someone coming by to visit and see how he's doing. Now that he can start getting up and about, his days will hopefully start going faster for him. Little Bell was a delight to write. She's such a sweet lass, with no understanding of those class barriers that come as second nature to her elders. She melts the hearts of everyone and has them all wrapped around her little fingers. And I just can't say enough about the Gaffer. He's a wonderful father and though he may be gruff and hard on the outside, he's nothing but a big teddy bear on the inside. I always enjoy writing these little scenes with the Gaffer. The time at Bag End has ended. The class barriers might not have come down - indeed they were rather reinforced when Sam's friends started visiting. But at least Sam and Merry have gotten past that awkward part of their friendship and have learned to understand each other better. And, Merry got a girlfriend, which also wouldn't have happened had Sam never fallen. :D Thank you so much for reading! I'm glad you are enjoying this story so much. There might (and I stress might) be a follow up to this of Sam's visit to Halfred, but I haven't been able to figure anything out about that story yet and there are other stories I need to finish before I start on another one.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/1/2006
Well - Sam has made it back down the hill. I'm glad he's being offered alternative careers on the chance that his foot doesn't get better, but I'm still gladder that I know it will! And Merry and Willow seem to be enjoying their - er - opportunities. It might be as well that Merry and Frodo have to go off to visit Pippin as soon as Sam is settled. Or things might have gone rather further and history might have changed. A married Merry might never have insisted on escorting Frodo south - and what would have happened then? Similarly with a limping Sam. But disaster is avoided! Author Reply: Sam will always have options available to him, thanks to his friends and family. I love the way hobbits really look out for one another. Thankfully, he won't have to follow up on any of these offers for he will heal perfectly well and be better than new. :) Now, I'm sure Merry and Willow only talked. grins A little distance and time away will help to cool things down and whenever Merry does return to visit, well, Miss Camellia will be there to keep her eye on things, as well be Frodo and Pippin. History will stay on track, with no eminent scandals in sight. :D

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/30/2006
Sam shook his head again. “It’s for Rosie.” “She’s just going to read it to me anyway,” Goldie pointed out. “Then you can hear it then,” replied Sam. ROTFL!!! Brothers and sisters! That's the way they treat each other, exactly. I have a younger brother myself! And he would laugh as much as I did if he read this ;-) I enjoyed the Gaffer's visit very much. You pictured him perfectly. And Sam's little niece was so sweet! So, the time at Bag End is over now? Everyone is leaving to visit relatives - and Willow is left alone! That's a shame! How will she react, I wonder. To be concluded… Is there really only one chapter left??? There is a lot to be concluded... Author Reply: Siblings were meant to torment each other, but the Gamgees do so with love and adoration. :) I'm the youngest of my family and so I know how pesky us younger sisters can be to older brothers, and how infuriating older brothers can be also. lol Gaffer is a great dad. If it had been possible, he would have come much sooner and every day, as Goldie did. But he takes what he can get and just being able to make sure that Sam is well is a load of worry off his shoulders. Bell is just too cute for words. :) Willow will disappointed that she didn't have more time with Merry but she'll be kept busy with her work, have no fear for her. The epilogue should tie up all the loose threads. This was never meant to be a story that covered Sam's recovery to it's end - that would be a far longer story than I have time for right now. The purpose of this story was to see if Merry and Sam could get past that awkward stage in their friendship, and they have succeeded in doing that. I might have another story that will cover Sam's visit to his brother, but it's just a half-formed idea right now.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/30/2006
Oh! I wanted your last reply to turn into the novel you were threatening! g But reading the rest of the reviews helped! Yeh! Sam is up and around - a little bit. And has a future even if the worst happens! Family can be wonderful! Love your Gaffer. Got to go - late for work! Author Reply: LOL. I could easily write an essay on class distinctions in the Shire, and I nearly did with all the reviews. :) Sam's up and he's happy for it. If he had to stay in that bed one more day, I don't know how he would have handled it. Well, I do know - he would have heaved a great sigh and nodded and accepted it with little complaint, but a lot of disappointment. The Gamgees are a close family and they really look after each other. Sam would have plenty of options if the worst happened, but Daisy's offer is really more optimal for him than the others he had considered thus far. And what can I say about the Gaffer, other than he's a wonderful father who will never stop worrying about his children.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/29/2006
What a delight to see the family so happy together! But I'm kind of sorry to see the setting shift--it was nice having Sam at Bag End with Frodo and Merry. sigh Oh, well, can't have it both ways, I guess! I just love your Gamgees--they are such a happy clan. And little Bell was utterly adorable. I could just eat her up with a spoon! So, is the story winding down--or will there be complications? Author Reply: The Gamgees are a close bunch. The Gaffer must have been frustrated to not be able to come up to see Sam earlier. That he came as soon as his bones would allow him, and against the healer's wishes, shows how impatient he had become to reassure himself that Sam was more or less whole - and that the Gamgee fellows really are stubborn as mules. Frodo and Merry might have gotten used to having Sam around, but Sam never got used to being a guest in Bag End. He's been waiting for the chance to go home, every bit as much as Gaffer and Goldie have been waiting to bring him home. No one can take care of Sam better than his family, or so the Gaffer believes, and if asked Frodo would agree. Sam would be much more comfortable in his own home, or even in his brother's home, than at Bag End. Bell is an adorable little thing. :) It's easy to see why she's the apple of the Gaffer's eye. She has her grandfather - and everyone else - wrapped around her little finger. The story is coming to a close. No complications are forth coming and thank goodness! This is already twice as long as it was supposed to be! But I am contemplating a story of Sam's visit to Fred. I'm not sure if it will go anywhere though.

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