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| On Solid Ground by Lindelea | 5 Review(s) |
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| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 2/24/2004 |
| This is a sweet chapter. Farry tells his experience to Goldi, that is right and good. Like you said, honesty to each other. But I wonder, will Goldi tell Sam what she has heard and what she suspects? The Gamgees never speak of the ending of the book, which kind of surprised me when I read it. I guess I was a little dismayed about the ambiguity Goldi expressess - it's not quite real to her. Sam doesn't speak of it, and I suppose he doesn't want to feel that pull too strongly, until it is the right time. Maybe it wouldn't be a comfort to him to know Frodo is waiting. Can he not hear that Frodo is well and happy though? So many of Frodo's friends are gathered together - would it not be good to celebrate one more good thing? (More than one good thing, if you count the fact that they seem to have someone watching over them who isn't hesitant to intervene in extreme circumstances.) I like the way you interwove the three couples sharing intimate moments. Each has a moment of fear, but the fear passes with reassurances of love. Farry and Goldi's fear that they might not have much time together is easily overcome - they are young and just starting out and have just proved themselves invincible. Diamond's fear is made of many experiences and close calls, and is all too real - they decide just to live with it and love anyway. Ferdi's fear is also very real, but I think through all his trials he's come to a place of peace, where he can accept whatever 'is' - a rare strength indeed. Farry saying the vows to Goldi at the end is also sweet, and satisfying. After all, she's the one who needs to hear them. In light of your explanation to the previous review, do Merry, Sam and Pippin hear all the weddings in the Shire? They must be very busy! Who officiates in the Southfarthing, or Westmarch: not exactly conveniently placed for any of them. The outlying regions seem to run fairly autonomously. Would the head of a prominent local family do the honors? Author Reply: To answer your last question, I don't see them as hearing all the weddings in the Shire; more likely the head of a prominent local family would witness the vows of area hobbits, as you said. Of course, if the head of the family is involved in the wedding as a participant, the head of some other family will have to officiate. (That sounds complicated somehow. Need to have some tea to straighten out my thoughts.) I suppose young Rudivar Bolger could witness Farry's wedding when it comes to that, being the Bolger (!) but it just seems right for the Travellers to honour their own and each other in this way. Sam is focused on the present. He misses Frodo but he doesn't live in anticipation of sailing, for it means another parting, from the Shire he loves and his family and friends there. I think it comes up in his thoughts sometimes, but he always dismisses it with a "not yet", if he even thinks that concretely about the whole idea. Am not coherent, haven't had my first cup of tea yet! Am just finishing typing in the final chapter (draft) and will post it during our mid-morning tea break. Whew! | |
| Connie | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 2/24/2004 |
| Oh, so much love. It is so nice to see so many couples so in love, and in such different stages of that love. I also think the hobbit wedding vows are just wonderful. Such a sweet chapter. Thanks. Connie. Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing! I love a happy ending, or almost-ending. Got a few loose ends to tie up. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 2/24/2004 |
| I do love a happy ending! A very exciting, romantic story. Author Reply: Thank you very much! There is one more chapter... tell me if it turns out to be an anticlimax. I could end the story here but there are a couple of loose ends. | |
| Lyta Padfoot | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 2/24/2004 |
| I was wrong... looks like Ferdi has a rival for the 'most romantic hobbit' award. A wonderful chapter. I especially loved his honesty with Goldi. Author Reply: Well he has spent an awful lot of time in Ferdi's company, after all. Guess some of that courtliness rubbed off. Thanks for the review! | |
| Meldewen Ilce | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 2/24/2004 |
| Oh what a beautiful wonderful chapter! Got teary from both the conversations between Farry and Goldi as well as with Diamond and Pippin! And have I mentioned I LOVE it that Ferdi can now see again! I am so glad Farry remembered seeing Frodo and found this part interesting: ‘No, just Frodo,’ Faramir said, thinking back to the fading dream. ‘He was... old, as I said, old as a gaffer but somehow young at the same time; I don’t know how to describe him, Goldi. He was lively, and merry, and... well. He was well, Goldi, as if he’d left all troubles behind and lived in peace and joy.’ He laughed suddenly. ‘I asked him if he were dead, and he said, ‘Not yet! Not until...’ 1. ‘Not until what?’ Goldi said, raising her head to look into his eyes again. She remembered the end of the Red Book, and the conversation between Frodo and Sam before they came to the Grey Havens, though the Gamgees never spoke of it. It was part of a story in a book was all, there was naught to it. Or was there? ‘I don’t know,’ Faramir said dismissively. ‘He didn’t say what he was waiting for. He seemed more concerned about sending me back, for your sake and my Da’s.’ I believe I know what the ‘until...’ was - Frodo means he will not die until Sam has joined him in the West... Again GREAT chapter! Oh have I mentioned I love the hobbit wedding vows??? *bg* Author Reply: Glad you liked it. This chapter and the one where Ferdi gets his vision back and the conversation with Frodo were the driving forces behind this story. The rest of the story sort of got written around the three scenes. I did worry just a bit that this chapter would be too mushy, but it seems to have turned out okay. You're spot on about the "until". Thanks for reviewing! | |