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The Blue Wizard Blues by GamgeeFest	9 Review(s)
Quantumphysica	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 5/22/2013
I loved this story... I think this is one of the best LoTR fics I've ever read, it had so many great elements; tension (had me on edge quite a lot), intrigue, mystery, redemption, love... It was just perfect and very well written. All your OC's were well-rounded and made the story even better! And then all your descriptions of society, tools, music instruments, environments... It was descriptive without boring me for even a moment. Truly an amazing read! Author Reply: Thank you so much, Quantumphysica! It's always a treat to get new reviews to old stories. :) This is certainly my most unique story and a lot of fun to write, especially the world-building aspects, which was a combination of research and just making things up. I wasn't sure if or how I would pull it off. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

AleiTheLeaf	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/19/2011
I know it has been a long time since you wrote this wonderful story, but I would just like to say it remains one of my favorites. In fact, this spellbinding story is what got me following fanfiction on storiesofarda. Thank you for sharing the rich storytelling you possess. Yours, ~AleiTheLeaf, a former lurker Author Reply: Thank you so much, Alei! It's always a delight to get new reviews of older stories, and even more so to know that it means so much to you. This was a fun story to write and one I'm quite fond of myself. I'm glad I was able to introduce you to the wonderful archives available here at SOA. Happy reading. :)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/22/2007
Aha! A sweet ending, and a satisfying one. Love the idea that the light of the Starglass becomes a star in its own right, hurrying to find an empty place in the heavens to decorate as Frodo releases it in his dream. And the children are delightful! Author Reply: Frodo figured the light has been trapped in that starglass long enough. It deserved its own place in the heavens, very much as Frodo deserved his place in the Shire. The Gamgee children are as sweet as can be and Frodo's would be no less. Thanks for reading!!

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/18/2007
I love the vivid description of the dream - the description of the Straight Road beginning, the release of the star in the phial, the first sight of the West, the song that had always been with him - wonderful! But also love that he was able to stay in the Shire and the Baggins and Gamgee children all grew up together and he was that happy. Love that he had a son named Sam (well, of course!) but it's so cute. And that he saw Aragorn again. And when he went West, Sam was able to go with him - not sure why that was necessary still, but good that they went together. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: The dream saved this from being a bittersweet ending. It allowed us to see them sail, or what their sailing might be like, but we still got to see Frodo happy amongst his family and friends. Little Samwise Baggins is such a darling, just as sweet and adoring as his name-father. As to why they still sailed, it was Tolkien's original intention that they go together and at old age, but that ending only ever made it to outline form. I wanted to give him that ending. As to why it was still necessary, it was necessary for the same reasons that Merry and Pippin depart the Shire before their deaths - as much as they love it and love those still living there, they could never truly reintergrate themselves back into it. Without their wives, their true loves, there was simply no reason for them to stay there any longer. Yes, they all had children, but they were going to leave their children one way or another. By leaving, they also got to see their old friends one last time before going on to their next adventure. Thanks for reading and for sticking with this rather oddball story! :D

Laurelin	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/18/2007
I'm sad to see the story end, but you've made me very curious about what happened between the last chapter and the epilouge (now where's the tatoo from? what was that about the watcher in the water?). So please write more soon :) L. Author Reply: Rick and Aliesacan have gone on to have many more adventures, but those stories will have to be left to your imagination. I might (and I say this very hesitantly) have a story in regards to the tattoo and Rick's hair being so darn short, but I don't know when or if I'll have time to write it. I'll put it on the back burner with all the other stories waiting to be written. :D Thank you for reading, Laurelin! I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

elanor winterflowers	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/18/2007
Oh, this was GREAT! I loved every bit of it! You did a marvelous job of this, creating a wonderful alternative ending and Epilogue, the one everybody who reads LOTR tries to imagine. I am absolutely enchanted by it! The kids were perfect, the wives were delightful, and the middle-aged heroes were splendid. Sounds like Rick grew up to be Sting, and Aliescan achieved his goal of personal redemption with great dignity and warmth. A fascinating work, from beginning to end, and one of which you should be justly (if not inordinately!) proud. I am a huge fan! Author Reply: I'll always be a little miffed that Tolkien couldn't give Frodo a happier ending, the ending he originally intended for Frodo. So I consider this my gift to him, in a way, of giving Frodo that ending where he gets to remain in ME and sail only after he's lived a fulfilling life and sail with his best friend and soul-brother. I hope he likes it, and I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it. Sting! At least Rick won't be breaking out into renditions of "Roxanne" (I can't stand that song!) :D There's a reason his hair is that short though, it's not a normal look for him. He's actually growing it back. But all his time spent in Harad would have rubbed off on him in other ways, such as the earrings. Aliesacan has had more time to come to terms with his new self and image and to settle into it, as you might say. Rick would have been of great help to him in achieving that. Oh, I am quite proud that I was able to pull this off! I wasn't so certain much of the time. Thank you for reading and for all of your wonderful feedback! :D

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/18/2007
I can only quote Dreamflower to tell you that this was indeed "the perfect ending"! I loved the dream at the beginning and knowing that Frodo's dreams are more than just dreams I was delighted to find out that Frodo and Sam would go together on their last journey. But what followed when Frodo awoke was even better. Primula, Drogo and little Sammy - and last but not least his beautiful wife Melilot! To see Frodo that happy makes me happy, too :) I also liked it that Frodo and his wife were not of the same opinion about the gender of their next child. I would trust Frodo's foresight, though! Rick and Aliesacan (who has seemingly accepted his new name) managed a lot in the last 15 years, it seems. And all for the benefit of Middle Earth. I like that very much. The last lines were great, some passages taken from Tolkien and your additional lines fit in perfectly! I would never have thought that I ever trusted Sauron again! But you did the impossible: now I do! Thank you very much, GamgeeFest, for this wonderful story! Author Reply: Thank you Andrea, for your wonderful praise! :) The dream really saved me, as I couldn't decide when to set this ending, in 1436 SR at the Bridge, or 1482 SR when Sam (and now Frodo) sail over the Sea. One would be mega-happy, the other could only be bittersweet, and I didn't want bittersweet, but I knew they would have to sail. The dream allowed me to keep the tone happy while getting a glimpse of their sailing. :D As Tolkien had originally planned for them to go together and for Frodo to sail at old age, I thought this would be a nice nod to his original outlines. The second Conspiracy worked obviously, and with much success! Melilot really is perfect for Frodo, in much the same way that Rick's sunny disposition helps alleviate Aliesacan's more serious and broody tendencies. Melilot would be a constant reminder for Frodo of the promises he made to himself, and that alone, more than anything else, is what would make those 'dark days' seem to be not so dark. And Frodo will always assume their next child is a boy, while Melilot will always assume its a girl, though I think in this case, it's more than just an assumption for Frodo. ;) Rick and Aliesacan have indeed been busy, having many adventures and doing much good. Aliesacan did finally accept his name and the public image that came with it, which freed him of much of his inner conflict. Not that there wouldn't be a set back or two, of course, but Rick will always be there to remind him of his true self. Thank you for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed the ride!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/18/2007
The perfect ending! I love the beginning, with the dream, and then Frodo waking to the sounds of his family and children. You've created a very believable menage there, with all those Gamgees and Bagginses, and I enjoyed the reunion at the bridge. Yes, Frodo did have the sea-longing, but, like Legolas, he could keep it at bay as long as his loved ones here needed him, and then he and Sam could go together. Very well done! I would never have believed to begin with that you could take your premise and make such a plausible AU out of it--but you did! Congratulations for a ripping good story, that ended up not being too far out after all! Author Reply: Perfect? Oh my! Thank you, Dreamflower! I'm glad you liked the dream. For the longest time, I was torn between making the epilogue set during a reunion of our four heroes, or setting it at the sailing of Frodo and Sam, but I wasn't satisfied with either one. Then I remembered that wonderful quote from the book, that Frodo was often troubled by dreams of the Sea, and the answer presented itself. I could do both, and still have the mega-happy ending. :D I imagine mornings in Bag End are much more quiet than when he's sharing an apartment with a gaggle of Gamgees, but of course, he doesn't mind it one bit! They would be in and out of each others homes so much anyway, they might as well live together. I imagine the children have many sleepovers. :D Once I realized that Frodo would stay in ME, I wanted to have him and Sam sail together at old age, and given Tolkien his original ending, which unfortunately only made into outline form. They would both have the sea longing, but could easily wait while their wives were with them. I often wasn't sure if I could pull this off either! I'm just as surprised as everyone else that this managed to become a credible story in itself. Thank you for reading, and all your support along the way! :D

lovethosehobbits	Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 8/18/2007
I have to tell you, I've been reading this all along and loving it. It is a wonderful take on what could have happened and I think Tolkien would have been very impressed. The idea that Frodo actually found happiness is something I have always loved to read about. A lovely tale and wonderfully fulfilling ending. Thank you so very much for allowing us to come along on the journey with you. Author Reply: I hope Tolkien would be impressed and isn't rolling in his grave at the moment. ;) He did originally intend for Frodo to sail at old age and/or sailing with Sam, so I wrote that part in particular with his original outlines in mind. I've always wished Tolkien had given Frodo a happier ending. There was a slight temptation to make this epilogue on the bittersweet side, but I just had to the mega-happy ending. There was no other way to conclude it. :D Thank you for reading!

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