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Light from the West  by Armariel 215 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 76 on 7/18/2007
I didn't realize until the other day that I had missed a chapter here. Lovely song and lovely and loving that Frodo had sung a song that night his sister was buried and that loving three-way embrace for three grieving hearts. They are so different people that he fit so perfectly into the hollow of body and soul - parents and brothers - and he has found one that fits him perfectly too - love the way you said that! Good for him. And that he was willing to petition Lord Namo on his beloved's behalf. Now, my dear, you said Smeagol's redemption would take a novel - well, you've already written the first chapter, so just keep going! And you were wondering what to do! :)

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Oops! I was wondering if you'd missed it, it had so much in it that was up your alley, I thought. Thanks much! As for the story of Smeagol's redemption, well, I have thought of it....but I'm afraid it would have to be a PG-13 at the very least, not all nice and cozy and sweet like LftW since it would be set in M-E, and much that would befall the wanderers would likely be not very nice, and the Muse won't let me sugar-coat it. I've a feeling nice people would shun them and they would find themselves much in the company of ruffians, gamblers, prostitutes, thieves, thugs, pirates, and other low-lifes, maybe even a few stray orcs. Still, I may do it one of these days...when I come back from Germany (I'm leaving July 28, should be back about Aug. 7). Sometimes I can hear the bunny's feet thumping in its hutch.....well, maybe! In the meantime I can catch up on some reading perhaps.......

Thanks once more for all your feedback!

hugs
Armariel
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AntaneReviewed Chapter: 78 on 7/15/2007
Sam, I know you can’t come for a very long time yet, but I miss you, and so wish you could be here now. You, and all the others. Both our families all together and blessed in the Light, in the silver air of the West.

I love you, Sam...........

A lovely ending - at least to the published letters. I hope Frodo will continue to write. He didn't say he wouldn't and he wouldn't leave his Sam without that contact even if we can't read over the Mayor's shoulder anymore. Indeed - wouldn't that have been great to have them all grow up together?

And you can't just publish Shadows and leave it hanging there like that. Poor Smeagol, but if he has a chance of redemption that would be intriguing.

Namarie,
God bless,
Melinyel,
Antane :)

Author Reply: Oh, of course Frodo will continue his communication until Sam is ready to come to him, but that's all I'm going to reveal for the time being...well, of course that's not to say there will never be any more, perhaps a stray poem, song, or vignette may find its way into the collection in the future. I've worked too long on this story to turn it loose completely, it's been what, a year and a half almost! WHAT will I do now??

Yes, it would have been nice if Sam could have brought the whole hee-haw gang along to the BR, his kids and Frodo's all playing together on the beach...I was almost tempted to write an AU in which they do just that, but naaaaahhhhhhhhhh, don't think it would work...LOL

Poor Smeagol, but if he has a chance of redemption that would be intriguing.

Well yes, but the story of Smeagol's redemption would have to comprise a novel, I'm afraid! There may be a naughty bunny there waiting to happen, but I think I'll let the critter stew around (heheh) for a while....

Thanks so much for all your comments--they mean a great deal to me!

hugs
Armariel
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AntaneReviewed Chapter: 77 on 7/15/2007
Very interesting, my dear!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 78 on 7/13/2007
How perfect, this summer day of loving family, a clear beacon at sunset, the promise of the possibility of redemption for a lost son, the promise of joyous marriages for some of the children, a peace of family. And yet the heart yearns for his brother....

Author Reply: Oh yes...like a saint taking one last wistful glance toward the earth after being transported to the heavenly portals and immersing himself again and again in its delights. His head will turn from time to time, until that other being comes to join him. But it's in the present he is truly living.

And now maybe *I* can get some housework done *shudder* before my trip to Germany....but I'm sure to go through some withdrawals, after working on this thing for almost a year and a half....eek!

Thanks so much for all your comments--they mean a lot to me!

hugs
Armariel
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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 77 on 7/11/2007
Oh, how I hoped it would be Smeagol! And due to Frodo's intercession! And now both are able to work toward the Light!

Author Reply: Oh yes, I somehow always wanted to redeem Gollum, but hadn't a clue how to go about it...and then Darkfin saved the day! Whether or not they'll succeed in finding the Light, I probably must leave to the reader's imagination, however. Since I can't remember Tolkien ever explaining where the bad guys go when they die, I had to improvise a little...the Tartarus of the Greeks crossed with the underworld of the Halls of Mandos. If I were more sadistic I might have thrown in some Dante, but enough is enough. I scared myself a little as it was.

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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 76 on 7/9/2007
Now it is his turn to carry the one who bears the heavy burden; and the burden on him is light because it is his love that does the carrying--his love and He who engenders it.

Love the reassurance in the song.

Author Reply: Yes...and this task may be even harder, even if there's no literal mountain to climb this time. But I suspect our hero is now equal to it!

The song "Bridge over Troubled Waters" occurred to me...even though I heard once that it was really about doing drugs and although I scoffed at that, I've never quite been able to hear it the same way again.

Thanks so much once more!!!

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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 75 on 7/9/2007
Yes, Aneomne needed those words, that assurance.

And we have matches making themselves? Very nice!

Author Reply: Ah yes...Frodo now has the unenviable task of arranging a marriage for his eldest daughter...I doubt he expected to be faced with that when he sailed! But at least this one seems promising. The others...hmm. A young wannabe surfer dude courting the twins? Well, could be worse, I guess!

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AntaneReviewed Chapter: 75 on 7/7/2007
Another aspect of fatherhood now experienced - being asked about marriage and all that and good advice given. That's our lad! What a blessing he is! Re: your fireworks poem - I've done tons of poems in the past and know I am very good at it (if praise from friends is anything to go by) but Frodo and Sam seem to speak their love to each other much easier in prose than verse.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Sex, love and marriage--three subjects that can have good parents quivering in their boots, even when they're not wearing any;)--and no wonder. It was much easier when it was boo-boos and bad grades and crayons down the toilet and the bully down the street. I'd almost rather carry an evil ring to Mordor than go through an adolescence, I think!

Easier in prose perhaps...but more challenging in verse, for me at least!:D

Thanks once more!

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LarnerReviewed Chapter: 74 on 7/1/2007
Pizza, and now surfing? How wonderful! Excellent!

But now Anemone knows, and needs her husband's caring.

What will Fairwing decide, I wonder? Will she choose also to go "landish"?

Wonderful.

Author Reply: Frodo as The Big Kahuna? Well, why not? Once he gets himself some crab-proof swimming trunks, that is;)

And Anemone will get plenty of TLC, no doubt. And her husband just might have even more surprises for her in store. As for Fairwind...well, as always.....we'll see!

Thanks always for commenting!

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AntaneReviewed Chapter: 74 on 7/1/2007
"This is ALL YOUR FAULT!” Dínlad raged at me. “I’ll NEVER be able to hold my head up again! Next time you want somebody to play you, DO IT YOURSELF!”

Ah, the price of fame. :) Frodo should say, well, I hated all the publicity and hero-worship myself. But perhaps at this distance and seeing it happening from this angle, he can see that he was a hero.

I'm glad he assured Sam that he wouldn't be expected to surf when he came. I could just see his rising fear as he heard about that adventure!

That ending is rather ominous though so hope it's not long before another letter is sent that we can eavesdrop on. :)

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)


Author Reply: Frodo should say, well, I hated all the publicity and hero-worship myself. But perhaps at this distance and seeing it happening from this angle, he can see that he was a hero.

Well.....according to the book, he wasn't hailed as a hero, that honor went more to Merry and Pippin, what with them coming home in uniforms and what not. Then again, in the BR, he received the adulation that was due him, but not in an obtrusive way--the people letting him have his privacy and not allowing their kids to overwhelm him with attention, etc. On the other hand, Dinlad ends up with little girls stalking him all over the place--a little boy's worst nightmare, surely! lol Yes, the price of fame, and Frodo can be glad he has his family to protect him!

And noooo...can you imagine Sam on a surfboard? heheh Yes, I thought he might be experiencing a flicker of consternation and need reassuring....and of course they'll both be way too old for it by that time anyway!

I'm hoping to get the next one up soon but I'm afraid it may be the last...yeah, yeah, famous last words, I know...well, I can get to work on the famous Reunion tale then!

Thanks once more for the FB!

hugs
Armariel
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