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In the Bleak, Cold Winter by GamgeeFest	10 Review(s)
nancylea57	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/16/2008
while i'm more than thrilled that you don't hurt your hobbits as a habit, when you do get an injured hobbit you pamper and cosset them extremly well. only wish i could have helped--i understand the guide is i'll wash to here and there and you wash all spots between here and there.... you would have people lining up at the smial door for days. Author Reply: Sam was going to be really banged up by an even worse fall than he ended up having, only because I couldn't contemplate hurting him to such an extent. It would make it harder to get to the comforting part. :D

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 7/27/2007
Hi! I was really bored yesterday and thought I'd explore a new website for something to read, so I went to West of the Moon...only to discover I could have just looked right here on SoA on the page of one of my favorite authors for the perfect thing. :D At any rate, I read this there and loved it, and just came back here to review. I couldn't possibly tell you all the little lines and moments I loved without writing a review the length of one of the chapters itself, but here are my favorites: The coziness at the beginning. Or I should say almost coziness because Sam and Merry couldn't exactly be described as comfortable. Frodo and Sam's little..um...squabble. Not very pleasant at all, but what I loved was the making-up afterward and what it did for Merry. The inclusion of Willow. Poor Merry! If I wasn't absolutely for sure that he married Estella in the end, you would have had me seriously worried there. But such is life, really: how many people do you know that end up marrying the first person they date (or court)? I've known a few, but not very many. The "wintry" feel. It's hot here right now, so that was lovely. But the summer day at the end was even more so. :) The family love between the Gamgees (always a favorite) and the friendship of the Cottons. Lovely! That's one of the main things that makes me love your work. Oh, and I can't forget--Frodo comforting Sam and your so-beautiful lullaby! Always a treat to see I'm not the only one who tries to write them for one thing, but seriously the words were just beautiful! It made me get all teary-eyed, especially that last verse at the end that Primula added. Love it, love it! Oh, and I loved little Bell! Sooo adorable! cuddles her Also liked Sam's dream/memory of Fred sitting on him and his mother comforting him. I do hope you do a story with more than glimpses of Bell in it sometime. It would be a sad subject, perhaps, but I do so love your Bell! And the end was perfectly Hobbity! :D Your story brightened my day yesterday and allowed me to allow my muse a much-needed and invigorating break. Thank you! :) God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Hi Queeny! Thank you so much for your high praises. I'm glad you found this little fic. I wrote it last summer during our monster heatwave, so that explains much of the wintry feel of it - I needed something to think about that would cool me down! ;) Seeing Merry and Sam's friendship going from rocky ground to solid was quite a joy for me while writing this. Putting Sam in a position where he was dependant on his betters for a change, and where he could see Merry's vulnerable side, was just what the healer ordered. ;) Likewise, Merry needed to see that Frodo does have his problems with Sam, that the class distinction is a very real barrier for Frodo and Sam as well. He has somehow convinced himself that it didn't matter, that Sam could put that aside in his friendship with Frodo, despite Frodo telling him otherwise. Now Merry knows the truth of the matter, he can go a little easier on himself when he comes up against this wall time and again. Willow came at me sideways and almost knocked this story completely off course. She wasn't about to take no for an answer but it became clear early on what the obstacles in their relationship were going to be: pretty much the same as in his friendship with Sam, plus a few others besides. But for the time they had together, they were happy and content enough, and Merry certainly learned a good deal from her that Estella will be reaping later. :) The Gamgees are such a wonderful, supportive and loving family. They would have to be, to produce such a hobbit as Sam. And it's not often we get to see Sam amongst his friends, and the distinction here between his behavior around his betters and his behavior around his friends and family is quite clear. This was my first lullaby and it was quite difficult to figure out. I believe I had to do just as much research on that as I did for the cast Willow used! I just didn't know what sorts of things lullabies should be about, but I found some good sites and was able to use those examples to write a hobbit-version of a lullaby. Little Bell was a darling. I can see why Hamfast dotes on her so much. Halfred is a great older brother, but he's still an older brother, destined to torment his younger siblings if they can't figure out the safety word! LOL! I've done a couple of Bell-centric fics but I have no ideas for anything longer at the moment. She certainly would have her share of stories to tell though, with all those children! ;) Thanks for reading, dear, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D

Periantari	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/10/2006
INdeed i enjoyed it very much! =) thank you again for your wonderful gift. :) <3 :hugs: Also--sorry fro thinking that it's Sam's "grand daughter" in the other review. ;) i meant "niece". ;) Author Reply: ((hugs back)) You're most welcome! hehe I figured you meant niece. I couldn't help teasing you a little. :)

Althea	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/9/2006
I am going to miss this story. It has certainly been a wonderful adventure. I am glad that Merry and Sam are more free around one another other now. I very much enjoyed reading this tale. I hope there will be more to come. Author Reply: If one good thing came of this ordeal, it was that Sam and Merry learned how to be friends again. It may not have been the ideal way to go about it, but it certainly allowed them to see different sides of each other they wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story! It was quite an adventure to write it! Thanks for reading. :)

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/8/2006
I'm glad to see that Sam is recovering. And that Merry and Willow aren't finding it too easy to get together! (Although courting her will probably make Merry much more understanding of strong lasses and be a benefit to Estella in the future!) Everything has settled down - for a while, anyway. And the difference between Sam and Furzy when it comes to dealing with gentlehobbits is noticeable! I think Sam is closer to friendship with them - and closer to becoming the kind of hobbit who could manage outside the Shire. Not to mention the kind of hobbit who would become Mayor. And the thought of strawberries and cherries - and a hot summer's day - is very appealing. Author Reply: Merry's in serious need of instruction when it comes to lasses! Willow provides just that lesson and happily so. If it weren't for all the obstacles surrounding them at every turn, they could have been the perfect couple. Sam's nearly fully recovered. He'll be glad when he can do away with the splint entirely but for now, he does as the healer orders. :) Furzy's a sweet lad but he has much less opportunity to interact with gentlehobbits than Sam does. It just goes to show that Sam isn't quite as 'proper' as he likes to think he is! Furzy is probably wondering what his friend is thinking to be chatting up the heirs of Buckland and Tookland like he is. ;) Funny that I wrote this story as taking place in winter because it was so blasted hot when I started writing it! Now I wouldn't mind a little bit of that summer heat. Thanks for reading!!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
Very nice contrast to the beginning, with the snow and ice of then being replaced by the heat of now. And I can see how Furzy would be as reserved as he is. He's a nice lad. And all ready themselves for what comes next as Merry begins to understand there is no future for him and Willow together. Love Pippin here. Author Reply: Not just the weather. Merry's much more confident with his tray-carrying skills. :D Furzy takes over Sam's old place here, being the shy quiet observer of friends in deep conversation. Without him, it would not have been as obvious just how close Sam and Merry had become. Thanks to Tolkien, Merry and Willow's relationship is doomed. We all know who Merry ends up with but even if it weren't for that, I can see this relationship having many such problems. Merry isn't ready to give up yet, but he had realized it is going to be much more difficult that he originally thought. Pippin is such a dear. I've missed him in this story. Thanks for reading!

Periantari	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
awww what a nice scene to leave the story at! I do wonder a lot about Merry/Willow though and i see why you think that a sequel is necessary to expand upon that storyline! This was wonderful description: The late winter blizzard and the many spring rains had made the Shire green from one end to the other and everywhere he looked, flowers were in bloom, showing off their brilliance for all to see and enjoy. From the flowers that grew wild over the hillsides to the cultured flowers in the gardens of every smial and house, the Shire was alive with color and the sweet fragrance of blossoms in bloom. I can so see it and i like it a lot since i always try to emulate those who describe well. :) I love seeing Pippin in this! I especially enjoyed his question to Sam regarding his foot. :D One of the things that i like about your fanfic is your ability to write about OFCs and characters that do not get talked about much. THe storyline about Sam going to visit his niece, about his older brother and the place of Little Smithy is creative indeed. :) Thank you so much for this lovely story, gamgeefest! i enjoyed it a lot and hope to read more h/c from you! ;) :hugs: Author Reply: I don't know when I'll be tackling Merry/Willow and resolving that storyline, but I am working on something for Sam's visit to Little Smithy and Long Cleeve. Pippin has been dying to join this story. It was nice to give him the epilogue to run about and ask pesky absurd questions LOL. Consider it a cameo appearance. :D Thank you so much for your wonderful praise! I sometimes worry that I don't describe things enough, or I go overboard and describe too much. I try to find the happy medium and hope it's adequate for the reader. I'm so glad you've enjoyed your birthday present!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
Aww...it's over. sigh I have just loved this story, and I'm sorry to see it end. But now, of course, you have teased us with hints about Sam's visit to his brother, and all about the Long Cleeve North-tooks, and Merry's rather difficult romance with Miss Willow... So, of course, maybe you will give us some new stories soon. makes puppy dog eyes Really, this has been a wonderful glimpse into the lives of our lads in the years leading up to the Quest, and into the developing of Sam's friendship with Merry and Pippin. Author Reply: Alas, it's over but I do have that sequel I'll be working on, as soon as my other two stories are finished. I don't know when I'll be coming back to Merry and Willow, but we'll at least get to see what Sam was up to while he was in Long Cleeve. They don't realize now how important their friendship will become. That they came together initially because of their love of Frodo is most appropriate considering what will be happening in just four more years. I'm glad you've enjoyed this story so much! There were times I was worried I was getting too long-winded and side-tracked - Miss Willow rather took me by surprise. But it all came full circle in the end. :)

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
Good to see Sam back at work. And the difference between his and Furzy's feelings just go to show how comfortable he has got with M & P. Really enjoyed all of this GF! Author Reply: Sam's glad to be back at work, even if his duties are still restricted. He must have been itching to get his hands dirty when he was touring those gardens in Long Cleeve! Sam never had many issues with Pippin. He sees him more as a younger sibling, though he still treats him as a 'better'. Since Sam will always insist on being proper, it's nice to juxtapose his interaction with Merry, Frodo and Pippin against someone who is less familiar with them. It helps reminds us, and them, that Sam isn't as proper as he likes to think he is. ;) Thank you so much for reading!! I'm glad you've enjoyed the story!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
Very nice epilogue! Trust Pippin to come up with some ridiculous question! But Sam and Furzy didn't mind. They rather enjoyed it! I'm really glad that Sam and Merry have formed a solid friendship. Merry can now make jokes at Sam's expense and Sam will laugh with him. That's wonderful! Also Merry will tell Sam about his relationship to Willow and will accept Sam's advice. Of course, Pippin is jealous of Willow. That could have been expected, and it's quite natural. However, with Merry's and Willow's parents living so far apart and the "social gap" between them I can imagine the end of that story. Sigh They would have been the perfect couple. (Nothing against Estella, though!) Last but not least I found yet another new word :) That was: "chaperone"! I didn't have to look it up. It became quite clear from the context. In German such a lady is called "Anstandsdame". "Dame" is quite clear, I believe. And "Anstand" means decency, or as Sam would say, proper behavior! Thank you for this wonderful story, I'm looking forward to reading more! Author Reply: Pippin always knows just what to ask, doesn't he? Of course, the ankle can already move in all directions, so I'm not exactly sure what Pippin was getting at. Maybe he just wanted to make them laugh. He succeeded in that! Sam might have wished that he was never injured, but then he and Merry would not have grown so close. Or at least, it would have taken much, much longer for them to become as comfortable with each other as they are now. Sam knows a little more about relationships than Merry does so Merry will gladly listen to any advice he has to give. Things with Willow may not be going as smoothly as he would have liked but he's not about to give up just yet, social gaps and all. If the social gap didn't stop him from reacquainting with Sam, it certainly won't stop him from continuing to court Willow, or at least trying to court her. Healers are rather outside of the social constraints anyway, probably the only hobbits in the Shire who are. Pippin's jealousy is only natural. He's been the center of Merry's world for so long, he doesn't want to be displaced. He also doesn't want to see his friend sad, so he'll put up with being 'dumped' as long as Merry still spends plenty of time with him, which of course he will. :) Chaperones can be for both boys or girls, though it is usually girls that parents worry about the most. And now I've learned a word! Thanks for reading!

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