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From Where I Am by Rowan	6 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/22/2006
Things change, and people change, and to heal properly Frodo must go to the one place where he might change again. And once again Merry won't be going with him, and knows the grief of abandonment. Water, restlessness, falling, his own fear, the horrible fight ending with the loss of his finger--Frodo's known his own abandonment over the years, and needs finding, particularly to find himself again at last. And so Merry is abandoned, but not left alone or without understanding this time why. Very poignant. Author Reply: Thank you, Larner! I am so relieved to find that so many people "got" the story!

Inkling	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/22/2006
This is lovely, Rowan, especially the word-picture Merry paints of Frodo in the final passages. And the poignant closing line, when Merry realizes why Frodo seemed so happy… For all his perceptive insights into Frodo’s character throughout the story, Merry never saw this coming. But then, how could he? Hope you have a splendid birthday, and thanks for the mathom! Author Reply: Thank you. It's always good to know that one has succeeded in getting across what one intended.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/21/2006
That was beautiful, Rowan! Thank you very much! Like you, I am a Frodo and Merry fan. And like Dreamflower it always breaks my heart to see Merry letting Frodo leave at the Grey Havens. Sigh Those two have much in common and still are quite different, if you know what I mean, LOL! And I agree with you, Merry recognizes Frodo's faults and virtues, and loves him for them. I think, unlike Sam, Merry would have argued with Frodo about some of his actions in Mordor, had he been his companion. Sometimes I wished Sam had argued, but it was not his nature nor his position to do so, or so he thought! I wish you a very happy birthday :) Author Reply: Sam does disagree with Frodo on occasion, such as over what to do with Gollum, but then he gives way rather easily. So, IMO, it was a good thing Sam, not Merry, accompanied Frodo from Parth Galen to Mount Doom -- because showing mercy to Gollum was not the obvious right choice, yet it enabled the quest to succeed. I'm not sure Merry could have done so. So I do think that every hobbit followed the right individual path to make a difference. Anyway, thanks for the comments and for the wishes!

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/21/2006
Wow. Happy birthday for Saturday Rowan and thank you so much for such a wonderful present to us all. Merry does seem to be the more reflective one and able to express his feelings in this way. Lovely work. I would really like to see you add a thought or two about the time when Merry realises that Frodo has gone off to Mordor and left him again at the Parth Galen. He wanted Frodo to go to Gondor but was more than willing to accompany him where ever he went. Author Reply: Thanks, Harrowcat. I did think about putting something in about Parth Galen, but couldn't think of a convenient "breathing space" in time for Merry to spare a thought for Frodo, in between being a captive of the Orcs, worrying for Pippin, etc. I guess I could have "made" a space, but anyway, I decided to make this one specifically about Merry's observations of Frodo leaving home, or being about to do so. Parth Galen, I think I'll leave for another fic.

pebbles66	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/20/2006
This was absolutely beautiful. So sad, but perfect. I loved Merry's insight into his cousin. I love fics where people love Frodo and worry about him and try to protect him. Thank you so much. Author Reply: Thanks, Pebbles! That's my favorite kind of fic as well...it must be, since I seem to be doing it so much lately!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/20/2006
sigh Poor Merry. I always feel so for him. I won't go so far as to say that he loved Frodo more than the others, for I think for all of them that love ran equally deep and strong--but he had loved Frodo longer--from the day he was born, and so the roots were far more entwined. And I think it was Merry's nature to love harder, if you know what I mean, and so it makes the parting even more painful for him. Author Reply: Thanks, Dreamflower. I always had the feeling that Merry was the one who understood Frodo, even better than Sam in some ways. He sees his faults and loves them as well as his virtues, whereas Sam just loves. If that makes any sense.

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