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Outtakes of a Fellowship and Beyond by Kara's Aunty	6 Review(s)
cookiefleck	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/9/2009
Sam + angst = good fic. I liked the way you had him attack the rosebush. So sad. Author Reply: Hello cookiefleck! Thanks for your encouraging words. It seemed to me at the time that Sam must've had an inkling that all was not well with his friend, despite Frodo's attempts to prove otherwise. He may not have known for definite that Frodo was leaving, but his friend's sufferings couldn't have been a mystery to him, living in such close proximity, and he must have thought about how the loss of Frodo would impact upon him (whether it was through death or not). That's why I had him expend his grief on the roses - and you're the first person to say that you liked it! So you've made me a happy woman, m'dear! Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/15/2009
I'm not certain just how much Sam knew of Frodo's anniversary illnesses, as apparently Frodo did his best to hide them from him. I'm certain he was aware Frodo wasn't at his best then, and probably suspected they were worse than Frodo admitted. I know I write him as aware they happened, but uncertain just what was going on, and whether they were physical or emotional or what; but then that's just how I write Sam. He could not have totally hidden from himself that Frodo was withdrawing from society and life, however; and probably did worry in this manner for Frodo's health and possibly for his life as well, although he did his best to put his best face forward and play along with Frodo's own game of "Nothing really wrong here." But I suspect he did, as he indicated on the road to meet the Elves, believe that Frodo was retiring to Rivendell to live the rest of his life. That he was leaving Middle Earth altogether must have been a great shock for him. Very poignantly written, and thoughtful. Sam's own take on the themes, perhaps, of "Thinning" and transplanting. I'm so sorry he took out his secret fears on the poor ivory rose bush--certainly I have loved such bushes myself. But now and then the conscious awareness that Frodo was slipping away, physically or spiritually or both, must have bubbled to the surface in just such a manner. Thank you. A gentle pathos moment. Author Reply: Hello Larner! Lovely to hear from you, as always. Thank you for your lovely review :) You are too kind! I knew the rose-ripping incident would raise a few eyebrows - I actually debated pulling that before posting, but decided not to, because grief can affect us in strange ways and make us do the most irrational things. Poor Sam is not immune to that - but he did tend the remnant blooms with much more care afterwards and won't be doing such a thing again :) I think he missed the first illness because he was away planting in the Shire after the Scouring, but having lived in close quarters with him for the remainder of Frodo's stay (and knowing his friend so well), I think he would have known of some of the other incidences - certainly seen their effect on his friend. My interpretation is that he was always in denial of the severity of Frodo's post-quest condition: so eager was he to see his master well and back home again. But, deep down, I think he would have realised that all was not well in Bag End, no matter how desperately he wished otherwise. Poor sod. I did take a bit of (ahem) artistic licence with his guess about the 'far green land' though. Couldn't remember if he knew the option was open to Frodo (although he probably didn't: if he knew Frodo could leave him for Elven Lands at the drop of a hat, he would never have been as content as he was for that first 18 months or so after the quest...ooh, a plot bunny! You are my inspiration). Thanks (always) for R & R-ing, m'dear. M ;)

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2009
Okay, I am going to try this italics stuff myself because I have wondered the same thing! Why? Why? The single word rebounded through his head and he fell to his knees; great, fat tears of despair leaking from his eyes. It wasn’t fair! Hadn’t he tended them well? Didn’t he nurture the delicate blooms, cherish their purity, guard their innocence fiercely as he would guard his own child? He fought desperately to control his sobs as the ivory blossoms seemed to glow at him with a brilliant, white light. Just like Frodo. Wow, that just broke my heart for Sam! Wonderful stuff, cousin. I love the comparison made. Frodo was ever Sam's master but also friend and brother and child, as the Quest progessed. Have I quoted you yet the words of the Little Flower, St. Terese of Liseiux, who said there is no greater suffering than to watch someone you love suffer and be helpless to stop it? What joy though for Sam to hear and see Frodo's love for Elanor. He was a very proud and loving uncle! :) I just recently finished Sean Astin's autobio and he is of the firm belief that the power of Frodo and Sam's friendship is the purity and innocence of their love. Rock on, Sean! And you have shown that beautifully here. I don't agree with the violence of Sam's reaction, doesn't seem to be him at all, but I love the way you have spoken of this grief and love in comparison of the rose and that he loves it more I think because it reminds him of his beloved master. Namarie, God bless, your Tookish bloom :) Author Reply: Hello Tookish bloom, Yep, I read your quote of St Terese and had it in mind. I also knew you might like the gardening similarities to his care of Frodo and though I didn't deliver it in a poam as you requested a while ago, I thought it was nigh on time that I gave you at least a ficlet about it. Glad you enjoyed ;) I knew the destruction of his cherished blossoms might raise a few eyebrows - it is very uncharacteristic of him, after all. But grief makes puppets of us all sometimes, and leaves us no room to ponder our actions carefully before we take them. Still, at least he didn't rip the head off a fellow hobbit! ;o) It's great to know that I'm not the only one who pondered The Great Italics Mystery! What a thrill to have it solved - and I mean that. It's been frustrating me for several months now, so my gratitude to Shirebound and Celeritas is boundless!! Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear. I'm doing an HP/LOTR crossover on ff.net just now and have subsequently put 'An Evar-Present Danger' on hold until I can do it proper justice, so these little out-takes give me the chance to stay updated with my one true love of Middle Earth when I need a break from the marathon task that 'Not Quite A Maia' is turning out to be ( Two complex worlds and their histories - crikey! Cousin Mo ;)

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2009
As long as he had breath in his body, Samwise Gamgee would offer his ivory rose warmth and light. He would prune it, mulch it and watch it flourish and grow. That's our Samwise! I loved the comparison of Frodo to the rose. It's perfect! And I just used the method described by Shirebound to generate Italics. It always works for me. BTW, I have never seen a French hobbit, either. But it would be nice to meet one, wouldn't it? He might greet you by saying "A votre service" or something like that ;-) Author Reply: Bonjour Andrea! A votre service et votre famille! Ahem, okay, so my French is rubbish. But it would ne a laugh eh? Or a German Hobbit: Ich stehe zur Ihren Dienst und das von Ihrer Familie. Okay, my German's a bit rusty too... But I'm loving this HTML business and will use it at every opportunity when replying to reviewers, or posting my own. This is even better than instant messaging! But your BTW made me laugh, so I had to try it. I was going to compare Frodo with an orchid, but was unsure if they would grew in the climate of the Shire. Perhaps further south, but not in Bag End. Very unfortunate for me! Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;)

Celeritas	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2009
Poor dear Sam! I like the "transplanting" imagery used with Frodo; I think it's one that Sam would automatically understand. But that doesn't make it hurt any less. Lovely ficlet, dear! Quick technical nitpicks: 3021 is not Shire Reckoning; it's the main Third Age numbering used by Men. The year you want is 1421 (sorry, you got me temporarily excited by a Very Late Fourth Age ficlet!). The italics in reviews are a bit of basic HTML coding. Put before anything you want to italicize < i > without the spaces, and then when you want to stop using italics put in < / i >, again without the spaces in between. You can also do bold, underline, and strikethrough this way: < b > and < / b >, < u > and < / u >, < strike > and < / strike >, respectively. Hope that helps! Author Reply: Hello Celeritas, thanks for the pick-up on the SR date, a foolish slip on my part... I'm going to try italicising now - eh, I've started already and it doesn't look like it's working. Maybe it only shows up after I post my reply? Yeah, poor Sam, poor Frodo. Both went through so much, but now that they're back home, the final, most bitter pain is yet to come. Sniffle. Thanks for R & R-ing (and giving me the HTML tips! m ;) Author Reply: Yippee! It worked!!!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2009
Was that the problem? Was the Shire, once the Spring of Frodo’s life, now his Winter? Did he need to be planted in warmer climates, richer soil? And did Sam have the heart to uproot him and send him safely packaged on his way to this far green land? Ohhh, this is so poignant. Dear, dear Sam. Author Reply: Hello Shirebound, thanks for reading and reviewing, I'm glad you liked it. At this stage post-quest, I always imagined Sam had an inkling, but was refusing to accept what must surely come. Poor dear. I have a question, though: how do you manage to italicise some of the sentences in your review? I've tried that before, but the SoA site refuses to do it for me unless I'm posting a story. Grr! Thanks again, M ;)

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