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Dreamflower's Mathoms II by Dreamflower	8 Review(s)
Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 4/4/2013
Yes, summertime it may be, but there is darkness that will take away more than Bag End. Author Reply: Yes there is. But this was Frodo's first sacrifice to the Quest, and he made it with the belief that he would never have his home again.

GamgeeFest	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 9/29/2008
Yes, I do see this as a likely reason Frodo would have taken such desperate actions. It would have been only too easy for him to continue to delay leaving if he could remain safely tucked inside Bag End. Whereas, once he left his home, it was a simple matter to just keep on going. Author Reply: Exactly! And knowing that he'd left the SB-s there would have been extra incentive not to look back.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 8/12/2008
Have to agree with Gandalf - selling Bag End to the S-B's was more than a bit extreme. Though I have (grudgingly) to admit that Frodo's reasons for it are rather logical. To cut his ties to Hobbiton and the Shire would make leaving it easier. Author Reply: Yes, it would--and of course, avoiding the sight of the S-B.s spoiling Bag End would make a good reason to leave.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 7/17/2008
I love this, the reasons and the last line - where the darkness resides - and Gandalf's sympathy. Nice title. Ache for those desperate but necessary measures and what it did to that gentle heart. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I'm sure that from the moment Frodo realized what the Ring was, he felt its evil as a darkness he had to carry. I think sympathy was a defining characteristic of one who had been a disciple of Lorien. I'm glad you liked it! Thank you, dear!

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 7/16/2008
Poor Frodo - what a way to have to leave his beloved home. And yet he must sever all those ties and quickly. A very plausible set of reasons for leaving, but so poignant and painful. I've lived in my home all my life and I can't imagine leaving it, so I can feel the pain Frodo must be feeling. The Muse finally returned from her long holiday and the next chapter of 'A Centenary of Special Significance' is finally up! Wish I knew where she's been........ Author Reply: I have always thought there must have been more than the obvious reason for his selling to the SBs--especially since he knew they were the last people Bilbo would have wanted to have Bag End. But he had to cut those ties as quickly as possible. It's up? Oh good!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 7/16/2008
I find this so heart-rending, these reasons for selling his beloved Bag End--and to Lotho and Lobelia! In "The Dog Who Wouldn't Be" Farley Mowat tells of his father's decision to settle in a certain town, selling his beloved boat so he'd have no way to return to his former home and force himself to make a go of it here--throwing his hat over the fence, as he characterized it. And here Frodo does the same thing, cutting the ties to his beloved home and so forcing himself to leave it. Author Reply: Yes, that's exactly it. I think in his heart of hearts, Frodo realized he would probably not return to the Shire (though he was not entirely right about that in the long run) but once that bridge was burnt, he had no choice but to go on with his burden.

Althea	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 7/16/2008
I've never really understood why Frodo decided to sell Bag End, especially to Lobelia. This story offers a very good explanation of what might have been going on in his mind. My heart aches for Frodo. I love Gandalf's gentle affirmation that Sam will accompany Frodo. With Sam at his side, Frodo will always have a bit of home with him. Author Reply: It was something I had long pondered over the years, and when I wrote my "Conspiracy" story, this was what I came up with as the simplest and most likely explanation. I've read many other accounts of "why", and most of them are a lot more complicated. I think whatever outward reason Frodo gave, the urge to burn his bridges had to be in his mind at least as a partial motivation. Yes, he will. And Gandalf knows it. I think Frodo might have been a bit angry at Gandalf for taking the matter of Sam's going out of his hands, but I also think he was grateful as well.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 7/16/2008
A tie to be cut and sharply! Leaving anything or anyone is very painful and often best done quickly. I like this a lot Dreamflower. That last line - ouch! Author Reply: Yes, it's hard to have to make such a change. Add in the fact that since losing his parents, the Bag End years were probably the happiest of his life, and the fact that he knew Bilbo hoped he'd carry on there, and it had to be even more painful. I almost didn't put that last line in, but it seemed it needed something sharp and angsty to finish it off, and that came to me. I'm glad you liked it!

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