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| Reunion by Larner | 11 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 6/2/2006 |
| You know, it is so very typical of Frodo to leave the White tree when he felt Sam's emptiness and loneliness out of fear to influence him. I am glad he hasn't to wait so much longer now until Sam arrives. It is nice the elves celebrate Frodo's birthday in this way, even if Frodo himself obviously didn't remember it. I see it as a sign how much they honour him, and I am glad to know (not only from this story) he was so well cared for in Tol Eressea and not only by the ones who knew him best in Middle Earth - Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf. Do you plan to tell us more about the visit of Finarfin? You've got me curious! Author Reply: I believe all the Elves who came from Middle Earth and who'd lived through the War of the Rings, and probably a good many who'd experienced Sauron's power from before, would greatly honor Frodo and wish to see him cared for, offered the honor he deserved, see him included in their celebrations and watched over. They have an idea of the temptation he successfully held off for so long before it took him at the very last; they know what sacrifices he offered; they have seen his suffering and now see his rejoicing and the peace he now knows. And I believe they will know great loss when he goes from them, but will know it is a blessed loss. And of course, once they appreciated how mortals celebrate birthdays rather than begetting days, they would wish to honor that for his sake. Frodo would ever, I think, seek to put the least pressure possible on Samwise Gamgee; he would ever prefer that Sam make his own decisions, no matter what he might desire for his own comfort. He would have understood, I think, if Sam had remained and returned home to Hobbiton to lie in the end by Rosie; I am only glad Sam did seek to follow Frodo in the end. As for the visit by Finarfin--I may try that one day, although I've not truly fleshed out the scene in my mind. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 6/1/2006 |
| Frodo's not really there now. He's barely clinging on until Sam arrives - and if Sam had chosen to remain in the Shire, I think he would already have let go of the tiny amount of life he is clinging to. But he will be there and waiting for Sam. Author Reply: Yes, he lingers in awareness, but is remaining only by the thinnest of margins at the moment, and only for Sam's coming. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 6/1/2006 |
| I love the fact that Frodo is always surrounded by the elf children just as he was back home. They see his kindness and takes time for them and just enjoys them I imagine. It was so special that the elves had a birthday party for him, even if he didn't realize what it was! :) I remember the butterfly glade from Lesser Ring, that was a good place for Frodo to be when he found out that Sam was coming. Oh, I liked the fact that Frodo realized that he couldn't try and persuade Sam to come, that it had to be his own free choice. He didn't want him to feel guilty if he chose to stay and be buried by Rosie and near his children. Author Reply: Yes, in my thoughts Frodo is always one who loved children, no matter of what provenance. They will always find ways to help him realize that in spite of the fact he never himself married, yet he helped many children to grow and learn and be better folk, and from them he received the love he needed to receive in all the between times he knew. So glad the glade is remembered and appreciated. I felt it was the right place also for the official word to come to him. No, Frodo would never seek to push Sam to anything, and particularly not now. But both of them needed this; Rosie was a very wise wife. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/30/2006 |
| I'm glad Frodo found peace in the West.He will be so happy to see Sam again. Author Reply: I, too, am glad that he accepted the grace, and that the waiting will be fulfilled before he leaves Middle Earth at last. Sam's coming is needed now by both. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/30/2006 |
| All these years I have felt how strongly his heart has been bound to mine... And now the long wait is almost over! Yea!! I'm glad they still celebrate his birthday, even if he's not aware of it. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Frodo's own sense of time in the Elven lands was pretty hopeless, as was made clear in the visit to Lothlorien; that he'd lose track of even his birthday seemed logical. And indeed the wait is almost over; and two will find as much wholeness as they can before they take the last steps together. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/30/2006 |
| Oooo he's coming!! Reminds me of when I went to see my best friend in Germany, the anticipation...brrrr!!! Really brings back delightful memories...and a touch of sadness too, knowing I may never see her again....... A lovely chapter, altogether. ~~~{~@ Author Reply: Yes, the anticipation is thrilling and somewhat fearful at the same time, or so I've found in my own life. Have visited Germany over twenty years ago, and have had more visits to England where I have friends. I hope one day to be able to go back again. So glad you appreciated this one, Armariel. | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/30/2006 |
| Oh, what a peaceful, joyful chapter! Perfect to come home to after a stressful and rather exhausting and trying day of endless shopping and preparation. You capture so well Frodo's mortality, and the ethereal escence about him in spite of it. I mean, he seems mortal and yet...not so, somehow. I love seeing him helping and then watching the children, with the baby on his lap, and then in the glade with all the butterflies. Oh, please do write the actual reunion soon! I feel I'll burst if it's much longer! :) That was very interesting about the sculpture of the bird! Wow! I almost wish I could do that. Which reminds me, I must go now and work on a sculpture of my own that must be finished and baked by the end of the week. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Yes, we need the restful chapters, too, as well as the emotional ones. For Frodo this is a time of quiet excitement and anticipation now, waiting for the coming of Sam to the fulfillment of both lives. And I do think he'd have gradually lost more and more of his mortality, and yet would never have lost the joy of being with children and the love of flowers and beauty wherever and however he could find it. Let me know how the sculpture goes. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/30/2006 |
| Ah this is both sad and beautiful Larner. Like any good hobbit you still have the capacity to surprise and delight your readers. A feast in honour of his birthday....and the butterfly grove again.... and your description of Frodo himself and... and... and... Author Reply: I think Frodo would appreciate his age has caught up with him, and is filling his heart with the great beauty and the memories of peace and wonder this grove grants him. Yes, it's his birthday, and although he doesn't realize it Sam has left Bag End and is even now on his way across the Shire. And we had to have the quiet visit to the grove, I felt. So glad so much moves you in it. Love to your folks and Jet. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/30/2006 |
| I really enjoy your interpretation of what comes of Frodo as he dwells on Tol Eressea--it seems to go so well with Gandalf's musings after Weathertop: "a glass filled with clear light for eyes to see as can". And though you indicate that he is scarcely a hobbit any longer, I do see his essential "hobbitiness" yet lingering--that essential toughness of self that keeps him anchored for the sake of a friend he hopes once more to see; his joy in children and nature; his unselfconscious singing; most of all, his memories of the Shire and his loved ones there--as is shown by his praise of Pippin's singing, for example, and the way he does not realize how his own singing has changed--for even though he is evolving into something "other"--that love is still deep and true. I so look forward to Sam's arrival. Author Reply: When Frodo first was aware he was changing he feared to lose himself. That it would lead to him finding himself as he was meant to be, fulfilled and joyful and ready to shine before all the denizens of the Presence, is something he couldn't fully appreciate when he anticipated leaving the Shire and Middle Earth. The Hobbit who is far more than he was when he was "just" a Hobbit, who is learning the purpose of the space he'd thought of as the Shadow Realm, and rejoices ever to enjoy and share beauty, and who indeed looks to see his friend come. I'm so glad this is communicating what I'd wanted it to say. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/30/2006 |
| Wow! So beautiful! So, Pippin was right when he assumed that Frodo might have changed! And how he has changed! His light of being is stronger and purer than ever, while his body is steadily burning away. Like Tolkien told us in his letter: a purgatory, but in a good way. Still, Iorhael is Frodo. More Frodo than Frodo Baggins ever was! You can feel it when he speaks about his Sam, and in this: A few days ago he was working about the mallorn tree in the Party Field, and I could feel the emptiness in him. I had to leave the White Tree that I not call him to me. And I have no doubt that Sam will recognize him at once! The shaping of the little bird intrigued me! I would really like to know more about "that other region". Author Reply: I've always felt there had to be a proper, holy purpose to the changes wrought by the Morgul knife and for the Shadow Realm where the spirits of the Nazgul remained. This lets me play with theories; and it of course goes back to Glorfindel's words to Mayblossom in the chapter where he meets with her and her mother, that he is able to enter a border realm where those who enter it may perceive the Song and enter into it, allowing them to bring back to Arda the knowledge of how to shape the marvelous works of their hands and minds. I know it's not in canon, but neither is it denied by canon; and it's fun to speculate. And for Frodo this has indeed been his purgatory, and a most blessed one at that. Only a small shell holds him within Arda, until Sam makes his final decision. | |