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A Small and Passing Thing by Lindelea	6 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/23/2023
Quite the act. Bless both the Hobbjts.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 9/3/2011
Freddy has bought Frodo a loving gift in his company and healer. I love the way he teased his cousin about trying to have a good performance during the anniversary illness and Frodo's response. Alas that Frodo made good on his word, but good for him and Freddy to try to keep it from Sam. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 11/4/2003
There was some fantastic stuff (Huh...stuff. Aren't I descriptive today?) between Freddy and Frodo in these later chapters. I love watching the simple mechanics of an everyday friendship. For a time Frodo had truly taken Fredegar under his wing, but the tables have turned; Freddy is now the self-appointed guardian of the former Ringbearer. And a good thing, too! I think dear Frodo would let himself go to wreck and ruin before "burdening" somebody else with his troubles. Hurrah for Freddy the Editor! I can't imagine The Story without Merry and Pippin's part of the tale. The single line in the trilogy that made me cry the longest is in Merry's half of Cormallen ("Are you going to bury me?" sniff Oh dear...there I go). '"Sam-full-wise" for I refuse to call you Samwise.' Well, jolly decent of old Fred if you ask me! I think I remember reading that Sam's name in its original meaning was something like "half-wise" or "half-wit". Indeed! (Tsk, tsk on the Gaffer, says I). Made me happy that Freddy picked up on that and was so sensitive to it. grins Sammy! Malva Brandybuck

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 11/4/2003
Frodo's somehow gotten the attitude that he doesn't want to worry his friends and relations, so he's avoiding asking for help. He's deliberately sent Sam and Rosie away so as not to grieve them and make more work during what should be a time of happy anticipation. Merry's got his own troubles at this time, and Pippin's probably helping him, so Frodo thinks he needs to go it alone - how very sad. He'd send Freddy away too, if he could get away with it. Fortunately, Freddy is perceptive, caring and just as stubborn, so Frodo gets the help he really does need. He says he's stronger and can fight it better, and given the experience of the last year, perhaps they have a better technique for the fight, but he doesn't seem stronger or better. I don't think he's really hiding everything from Sam - Sam shows up because he does have that vague anxiety about his master, but between his preoccupation with his new family and duties, or because Frodo's becoming better at hiding his disquiet, Sam doesn't see the full extent of the trouble. Or as you say maybe he doesn't want to see it. While Frodo was named 'endurance without hope,' Sam was named 'hope unquenchable,' and perhaps those appelations do define their attitudes as the story gets closer to the end. If I had to guess, I'd postulate that Sam does see Frodo's deterioration, but it is gradual enough that he isn't fully concious of the extent and thus not too alarmed. This is mixed with a fundamentally optimistic attitude, so that anything he does perceive he thinks that he and Rosie and Merry and Pip and Freddy can fix, given enough time and love (and Rosie's good cooking). Frodo I would guess thinks time his enemy, having little hope and becoming tired of endurance, and thus he leaves while he still thinks he can. If there's an event that triggers his final decision, it's not recorded, so you could feel free to make anything up! Perhaps it's an illness that surprises him by coming without an anniversary. Or something he used to do that he realizes he now can't. A letter from afar, a reminder of the past, or even an overheard conversation could do it. Heck, I was once tempted to take the boat to Elvenhome over a few grey hairs (I settled for a bottle of Loreal instead). I'm interested to see what you come up with.

Hai	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 11/3/2003
How good of Freddy to come and make sure Frodo is going to make it through his bad days! I like how Freddy calls Sam, Sammy, a different little name for Sam from someone else. Freddy is sure learnign a lot about the Travellers! I wonder how the story would have turned out if he had gone with them? Looking forward to more, thank you! Author Reply: Yes, Freddy made sure of the dates. It was handy that he was editing Frodo's writing, wasn't it? I do wonder how the story would have turned out with him along!

Tim the Enchanter	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 11/3/2003
Another loving conspiracy. Author Reply: You're right. Frodo sees Sam settling more and more into "normal" life and doesn't want to jar him. I'm sure Sam has his own dark memories of this day, for him to come and check on Mr Frodo as he did--perhaps he would have anyhow, but I like to think he noted the date.

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