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LifeWatch  by Lindelea 9 Review(s)
AspenJulesReviewed Chapter: 11 on 6/2/2006
Sigh... I'm going to have to charge you for a couple new boxes of tissues.

I love the healers listening in on the stories... I imagine after all that time they would have gotten quite addicted.

I loved Frodo finishing it up, when Merry couldn't go on. I saw it coming, but it still made me cry. I think my cheeks are turning pruney....

Author Reply: I cannot believe that there are no answers here to your lovely reviews to this story. I don't know what happened... all I can think is that this was a time when we were out of town and I didn't quite get "all caught up" when we returned.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your impressions. It adds so much satisfaction to the writing.

SlightlyTookishReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/29/2006
At last I've caught up again! The chapter where Merry and Pippin are knighted is just perfect, from the tailors using Merry to make Pippin's dresss uniform, to Merry worrying about Beregond, to the toast and finally the knighting ceremony itself. And now Frodo is awake, and I'm so happy Merry was there with him.

Author Reply: Whew, good for you! I sympathise, having zero reading time these days--what I do read is usually during "stolen moments" when I ought to be doing something else...

Speaking of which, I really ought to go and put the kettle on and start a load of laundry and get down to business. Happily the little ones are cutting up boxes and making castles and things, on the floor at my feet, so I've had a little time this morning for fanfic.

Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/24/2006
I love Frodo waking up to complete the story. Merry kept Frodo and Sam walking in the green fields of the Shire until their bodies were ready to wake.

I'll bet the healers will miss the tales - and hope they remember enough of them to pass them on to their children and grandchildren, so that a little bit of the Shire continues in Gondor.

Author Reply: What a lovely image that brings to mind: "kept [them] walking in the green fields of the Shire until their bodies were ready to wake".

Wouldn't that be a lovely tradition, hobbit tales at bedtime?

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/24/2006
" 'The Hobbit' had gone missing at our house, probably under someone's bed"
So nice to know there are others who love these tales enough to read themselves to sleep, as I love to do. How beautiful to use Bilbo's poem about homecoming to "bring Frodo home", as it were. So very lovely!

Author Reply: It was reading Bilbo's poem in The Hobbit that was the inspiration for "LifeWatch", actually. It's funny how often a story is built around a single scene, clearly envisioned, at least the way I write.

Thanks!

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/23/2006
'Eyes that fire and sword have seen, And horror in the halls of stone, Look at last on meadows green, And trees and hills they long have known.'

Wow! I nearly had forgotten how beautiful that song was! And it was just perfect to let Frodo say these words.

This is the reward for all Merry went through and the endless hours he spent with Frodo and Sam telling them stories, to be the first one to see his beloved cousin awakening. That should make him forget his sorrows, even if only for some time.

'I'm harder to lose than you think, cousin.'

Well, that's true for both of them. And I love them for their unbreakable friendship!


Author Reply: I love that poem. Actually, this story came into being when I was reading The Hobbit as a bedtime readaloud. But by the time I got to writing this chapter, the book had disappeared! (A couple of weeks later it came to light under someone's bed.)

Thankfully a friend IMd me the text, bit by bit, so that I was still able to finish the chapter while the writing mood was upon me. (Thanks again, Toni, if you ever happen to read this!)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/23/2006
Oh, so PERFECT, my friend, for Frodo to first awaken with Merry by him quoting lines from The Hobbit! Bilbo's story come home to help Frodo come back. And I'm so very glad he was so hard to lose.

Author Reply: I'm glad they *both* were so hard to lose!

(And yes, it's the next best thing to Bilbo being there himself...)

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/23/2006
"This was their payment for all the days of ceaseless care, rich coin, treasure indeed."

Beautiful!! proper payment indeed :)

*sigh*

That, m'dear was wonderful!!!

MEWD!!!

Author Reply: Ah, high praise indeed.

(And congrats on the MEFA noms. So glad that reading season comes *after* our schedule empties out a bit. Looking forward to days reading by the pool whilst the swim team practices...)

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/23/2006
Oh! It doesn't matter how often I read this chapter there is always a *happy sniff* at the end!

Author Reply: Aw, so glad to hear that!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/23/2006
Yay, what a beautiful awakening! And the healers will remember this all their lives, and tell their families about the day they were present when the Ring-bearer awoke on a joyful spring day in Ithilien...

Author Reply: It seemed so right, for Frodo to waken to a "Bilbo" story... the next best thing to Bilbo being there, I guess.

Thanks!

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