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| Via Dolorosa or The Way of Sorrows by Antane | 239 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Cibilka | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/7/2022 |
| Lovely series! I've just been in that kind of mood of filling in some gaps in the story. I just can't get enough of these two! What they have is the most precious and beautiful thing in the book for me. My heart suffers for what they both had been through. Frodo losing himself to It, and Sam losing Frodo to It. It's such a tragedy words can't describe. But despite the pain and tribulations, love endures. It was for the best that Frodo didn't tell his friends in advance about his plan, for if he did, he would have met some resistance from his cousins. I doubt Sam would stop him, for he knew in himself that he was hurting beyond words and he deserved to go there for his healing. Hence, why his response was, "And I can't come." I don't know what he would've done if he hadn't married yet! It'd have been more bitter for him, Frodo leaving him alone like that. I believe the latter waited for Sam to settle down with a family so he knew he would be okay once he was gone. And it was time for him to be whole, in the sense that he needn't worry about his master anymore, and he could look after himself and his family. Author Reply: Thanks so much for this lovely review! I think if Sam hadn't married, he would have followed Frodo right then but who knows, I think it likely. Another beautiful take I read years ago was that Frodo never left, Sam never married and they remained together committed to each other. Love endures, hope endures. This is what true love is - sacrifice, thinking ever of the other never of the self. Such inspirations! Namarie, God bless,hobbity hugs, Antane :) | |
| H.G. | Reviewed Chapter: 49 on 9/6/2016 |
| Not sure how realistic I find this. I don't think orcs would *really* do that, I think they'd be more interested in what hobbits taste like than... that. Pretty scary notion. Author Reply: Who knows? Scary indeed. It would have been terrifying in any case, just the threat or fear of it would have been enough to give nightmares. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| whisperer | Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 4/25/2013 |
| oh dear, i can never thank you enough for this story. i didn't read this without tears in my eyes. It breaks my heart and haunt my waking mind. It just happen that I'm a man, so I'm trying to stop myself from bursting. nevertheless, i really love your work specially this one. I only leave review if i loved what i had read. to put my gratitude into words would only fail me, dear. Author Reply: Thank you so much for your very kind words! You honor me with your tears. Glad you enjoyed my work so much, if something that breaks your heart can be called enjoyable. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) *hugs* | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 8/24/2007 |
| Oh, Antane, if I had not already been drained of tears (by real life stuff) this surely would have brought them—tears not of pain but of that feeling I have when I finish reading ROTK that I’ve never been able to describe. I’m happy that the reunion is coming, sad for the good-byes, and also sad that I’ve once again reached the end of a journey that you’ve led me on with your words. The poetry at the end was *so* perfect and just absolutely right! And the last line—oh! Something of this length takes a great amount of dedication, even when you love it; I’m so glad you have that and shared this with us. *hugs* God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Hantanyel, ammelda! *hugs you right back* I loved the way Sam altered that song/poem at the end too! :) And that last line is just him too, isn't it? :) Namarie, God bless, Melinyel, Antane | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 70 on 8/21/2007 |
| Yes, so right. The two halves coming together, sharing the last over half a century with one another before they go on to their next great adventure--a purely joyful one this time. Author Reply: Always together even when apart and yes, the greatest adventure yet to come and of course, it will be taken together. :) Namarie, God bless, Antane | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 69 on 8/21/2007 |
| You are about to get a gigantumongous review (yes, it¡¦s a word now! ƒº) of all the chapters I have to catch up on because reviewing is difficult, so I¡¦m doing it all in one so I don¡¦t have to mess with the technical stuff over and over. Sorry! ƒº ¡§A Glad Reunion¡¨ ¡§I have sought healing in mortal lands and found it not.¡¨ It sounds like a line of poetry¡Xexactly something Frodo would say¡Xbut it is such a sad thing. I just *love* Sam¡¦s part of this¡Xhis thoughts of the tree and richer soil (of course, he¡¦s a gardener at his very heart), and this: The wind brushes my tears away, but I think it¡¦s actually your hand doing so and I hear your loving voice in my heart, joyfully teasing me with some of Mr. Bilbo¡¦s words and your own, "Don¡¦t be too sad, Sam. The fire¡¦s very cozy here and the food¡¦s very good and there are Elves when you want them." That is just perfect. ¡§Shouldn¡¦t Have Beens¡¨ Frodo: I still have trouble at times telling dream from reality, but if I knew I would never see you again, then I would never leave, but bear the pain here and treasure every moment I had with you until Saruman¡¦s words fulfilled themselves. This gave me the shivers. It is so obvious how he suffers in this chapters, with guilt that should not be his. And Sam: ¡§¡Kcompeting with the sun¡K¡¨ *smiles* And great minds do think alike ƒº. I hear echoes of what Frodo said to Sam in my own tale after Bell¡¦s death here: How often I have talked to you then, either in my heart or softly aloud, and I know I have you heard talk to me, telling me all the things you had told me before, about love and loss and all that being a part of life and life without it would be no life at all. Oh, you make me miss that story, but it¡¦s as though I¡¦ve turned onto another road for a while and can¡¦t look back yet! ¡§Falling Asleep Again¡¨ Frodo¡¦s pain in this chapter is almost palpable. And Sam¡¦s recollection of watching, and not knowing, that his master/brother/friend was slowly saying good-bye to the land that had birthed him¡K:*( ¡§Where Shall I Find Rest?¡¨ Okay, this is going to make me cry before I¡¦m done with it. I can¡¦t pick favorite parts, because I¡¦d have to quote almost the entire thing back to you. The inclusion of the Sea Bell was wonderful; wow, I¡¦d forgotten the power of that poem, or maybe I¡¦d never truly noticed how much of Frodo¡¦s pain it held until it was put into context for me. I would so love to see, sometime, an AU wherein Frodo could remain (or they could all go over the Sea) and teach and conspire with the children. Sam¡¦s words about the smile even while holding back tears¡Kwow. :*( ¡§Blessed Night¡¨ I¡¦m running out of words to describe what this makes me feel. It¡¦s overwhelmingly sad, and yet not¡Xa blessed sadness, almost. Memories of love and peace amidst the grief¡Xyes, indeed. ¡§Hope¡¨ Ah, there is pain in this chapter, but also reason for smiles. Had to grin at Frodo¡¦s last sentence, simply because such a sudden sweetness was a relief. *Is* it Galadriel granting Sam this gift, or perhaps another lady¡XElbereth? Or One still greater? Oh! I thought there was another chapter! Well, I guess I¡¦m caught up now. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: So glad you caught up, ammelda! Hantanyel for all your kind words! Blessed Night is one of my favorites too - I love how Sam saw his treasure shining in the night beautiful enough to take his breath away and that night had become a friend again to Frodo. I love your description of how that chapter made you feel. Sam thinks it's Galadriel giving the gift since he knows no one higher who could, but who indeed it giving it? Hmmm... Namarie, God bless, Melinyel, Antane :) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 69 on 8/20/2007 |
| Ah, but they will wait, and when the time comes at last it will be the more blessed for the patience. And bless our Queen for her addition. Author Reply: Bless her indeed. We are so fortunate! I think you are right there too about waiting. How wonderful it must have been! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 69 on 8/20/2007 |
| Hope is a powerful gift to hold on to. Loved the poem of course. Sorry to have missed reviewing but have been spending time with my parents which is an internet free zone. Have been reading andenjoying every word though. Author Reply: Ah, there you are, dear harrowcat! I was afraid that the angst level had finally killed you off and you couldn't stomach it any further. Of course it had also occurred to me that you could have been on vacation too. Glad it was the latter and that you've enjoyed! :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 68 on 8/18/2007 |
| At least they were not kept apart indefinitely. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 67 on 8/16/2007 |
| I doubt Frodo was anywhere as successful as he'd have liked to be in hiding his anniversary illnesses. PTSD is such a pernicious condition, and so destructive to body, mind, and spirit. Now, to find the healing. And between you and our Lady the Poem is so sad and appropriate and truly Tolkienish. Author Reply: Hantanyel, dear Larner! :) I will definitely be sure to pass along your praise to our beloved queen. And I think you are right about Frodo not being able to hide as much as he thought he was. Those who loved him would have seen all. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |