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Sewn with Love by Elemmírë	24 Review(s)
Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/25/2006
A very good gift, filled with love and just as healing, a good cry and a good night's sleep, wrapped in love, hugging such beloved things. And the poor dear apologizing for not being happy. Now he know he's loved and he'll begin to heal and spread his love to others. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: He will indeed. It will take time for Frodo to be the carefree child he once was, but at least he is finally on the road to proper healing at last. Frodo sees that even though his parents are forever gone, he will always be loved. I'm so very glad you enjoyed, Antane! Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read and leave so many wonderful reviews. Merry Christmas and may God Bless you in the New Year! ~Elemmírë~

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 999999 on 12/21/2006
I finally had a chance to catch up on this. It made me cry, especially the last chapter and the very end. Poor Esme, I can understand her frustration. There are just some things we can't understand until we faced them, and how are we to know how to deal with them beforehand? Frustration isn't necessarily the right reaction, but it's certainly natural. It's almost unbearable to see Frodo like this...so young and so deeply grieved. The firsts are always the hardest, and the memories of dreams and plans are the worst of all. This brings back memories of the year my grandfather died, and the night I sat up with my restless younger cousin and eventually held onto her while she poured out her memories of him and tears for him--and of crying with her because I felt I'd never really known him, not being close to him. I'm so glad Frodo could release some of that grief in that way, with the three adults who try so hard for him. I especially like that he got that little moment with Esme, a reward for her, I'm sure. Wonderful, too, to see him tucked up at the end, wrapped in a blanket of love (literally) with Beorn and Beorn's new friend, sleeping the sleep of a child again, with a child's companions. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Sorry to have made you cry, my dear. hands you another of Bilbo's seemingly never-ending supply of pocket-handkerchiefs Poor Esme, I can understand her frustration. There are just some things we can't understand until we faced them, and how are we to know how to deal with them beforehand? Frustration isn't necessarily the right reaction, but it's certainly natural. True. There are some things in life that you just cannot be prepared for ... or you can have all the preparation in the world and it still doesn't matter one bit. Frodo was at that age where was old enough to remember his parents afterwards and yet young enough to still require them in his daily life. Grief and loss are difficult at any age, but Frodo wasn't say a one-year old who never knew his parents, or an older child near to coming of age who perhaps could manage to survive without. No, Frodo was at a very vulnerable age when Drogo and Primula where taken from him in such a traumatic way, hence his deep grief and confusion. As I told Larner, one day I hope to write another tale that follows a growing Frodo through each of the 12 stages of grief. Yes, having Frodo finally talk and start to accept their love was exactly what Sara and Esme needed too, for they were begining to doubt themselves and their ability to raise such a lad. Frodo's acceptance of the quilt and his sudden willingness to talk were a very important step for all three. Wonderful, too, to see him tucked up at the end, wrapped in a blanket of love (literally) with Beorn and Beorn's new friend, sleeping the sleep of a child again, with a child's companions. I LOVE how you worded that ... sleeping the sleep of a child again with a child's companions. Frodo is still a young lad--a young lad who had now experienced much grief and sadness than any child should ever bear--but a young lad nonetheless. Orphans tend to be psychologically and emotionally more mature than their peers in many ways, and yet much more undeveloped in others where they lag behind. Although Frodo is changed in many ways now, he still needs to be the child that he is. Thank you, my Queen, for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it! Merry Christmas to you and your family--may your holidays and the New Year be blessed! ~Elemmírë~ p.s. I think Beorn's new friend needs a name. LOL! What do you think?

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 999999 on 12/21/2006
You know that I have Pippin spearheading the move to make such a quilt for Aragorn in one story, and Frodo receives the mantle of memories from the shade of Ruvemir. As I said in the last story, we need such memories and the physical triggers that bring them to mind to be complete. I so love this story. Thank you for it. And may your grandmother be continued to be remembered with love forever. Author Reply: Once again, I'm very glad you enjoyed this tale so much, Larner! Thank you again for all of your lovely reviews and thank you also for your kind words here. I will always remember both my grandmother and grandfather with all the love in the world, for they were very dear to my heart always. I have never met two more kind or loving individuals ever ... they never had an unkind word for anyone and I learned much from them. They died when I was 22 and 25, and I wish I could have known them even longer. But I give thanks that I was able to know them both for as long as I did, that they lived nearby, and were an important part of my life. Thank you again, Larner. :) ~Elemmírë~

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/21/2006
Yes, we need the memories, and sometimes need physical reminders of them. Memory quilts can do that, as can photos and other pictures, certain songs, or particular angles of light with particular colors. Love how Frodo opens up with the quilt about him. Author Reply: That is very, very true, Larner. Even now, I still sometimes wish I had a quilt like the one I created for Frodo ... but I do have other reminders of my beloved grandparents, along with my own memories. The quilt is a first step for Frodo. He will continue to have his difficulties, as would any child who experienced what he did. At least now he realizes that he is still loved and cared for ... and most importantly, that his parents are not forgotten and there are those who continue to miss them alongside him as well. One day, I do hope to write another multi-chaptered tale exploring the 12 stages of grief and how Frodo experiences them throughout his life. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, Larner! ~Elemmírë~

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/21/2006
"Soon, one day will be a happy one for you and then as time goes by, more and more of them will be happy. I regret that you will always have sad days, Frodo my lad, but eventually the number of happy days will outgrow the number of sad ones." What a lovely thing to say. I'm glad writing this story helped you, dear one. Author Reply: Thank you very much, Shirebound! Those particular lines you quoted were paraphrased from the movie, 'Finding Neverland'. It's about how author J.M. Barrie came up with the inspiration to write his play, 'Peter Pan'. I must warn you though, it's a very heartfelt movie, but an extremly sad and angst-ladden one as well. I find those words, however, to be very true. The sadness may never go away completely ... but, the happiness will eventually outweigh the sadness. When I started writing LOTR fic, one of the first things I had written was a paragraph about Frodo laying amongst his dead parents' clothing, smelling them in remembrance. It came from my own experience of sniffing and remembering my grandmother in those days/months after she'd passed. The sense of smell is a very powerful one, especially when it comes to triggering memories. I pictured a newly orphaned Frodo with his mother's dress and the story just grew from there. Thank you so very much, as always, for both taking the time to read and review, Shirebound! ~Elemmírë~

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 999999 on 12/21/2006
I am glad that writing this helped a little with your own grief Elemmire. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Smell is such a potent sense that can shock and surprise us for good or grief at times. You showed this brilliantly. Author Reply: It did help, even though my grandmother had passed on years before I ever began writing LOTR fic. I'm sad to say that hers was really the first funeral/loss of a loved one in my life, so it will always be a bit traumatic in some ways. Whenever I would go to visit with my grandfather afterward, her flannel nighgowns remained hanging just where she had left them ... I would always hold one close and smell it, for they still contained her scent. After my grandfather too passed on and I began to write more, this "ritual" made its way into Frodo's childhood (along with other memories/experiences of mine), as one of the areas I love to explore with him is his life around when his parents died. That's the one scene I started this story with when I began to write it--with Frodo curled up on his parents' bed amongst their laid out clothing, smelling them and remembering. Again, Harrowcat, I thank you very much for reading this sad tale. It's greatly appreciated. Hannon le ~Elemmírë~

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/21/2006
Aw - so much pity, (in the true sense of that word,) and love shared amongst this family. Thank you for the hankie warning Elemmire. Author Reply: Thank YOU, Harrowcat for reading and leaving such kind reviews. It really means a lot to me. :) ~Elemmírë~ p.s. Glad the hankie warning came in handy ... I know this was an emotional piece to read (as well as write). Thanks for sticking with it.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/16/2006
Good ol' Bilbo, always knowing what the child of his heart needs - some time away from everyone, no one trying to make him feel better, just being with him and loving him and helping him more that way than anything else could - and then distracting him something irresistable - a tale! And he smiled!! I love the way you said he nodded so quickly like he had been waiting all day to be asked if he wanted to hear a story. Love that dear hobbit for looking after the poor lad. Hugs Frodo Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I couldn't have said it any better, Antane! - some time away from everyone, no one trying to make him feel better, just being with him and loving him and helping him more that way than anything else could - and then distracting him something irresistable - a tale! After suffering such a traumatic event in his childhood, I like to think that Frodo found his escape in Bilbo's tales. I know this is from the film, but it just rings so very true: "I spent all my childhood pretending I was someplace else ... off with you, on one of your Adventures." It was through his uncle's tales of adventure and his own child's imagination that gave Frodo a place away from the harsh reality that his parents were dead and he was stranded at Brandy Hall, belonging to no one really. This concept will later become important in my Dora tale that I'm still working on. Bilbo knows just what to do for the little lad, doesn't he. He's a very wise hobbit, you know. :D Frodo thanks you for his heartfelt hug and sends you one of his own ~Elemmírë~

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/14/2006
Having had Pippin start the making of a patchwork quilt for Aragorn to remind him of the love that surrounds him when his close friends and family must be away from him, I love this idea of the quilt very much. And I love that the imagination of that eagle feather served to cause Frodo his first true smile of the day. How wonderful! So glad Bilbo was there and able to tell him the story. And one day eagles will be a part of Frodo's own story. Author Reply: I'm so very glad you're enjoying this story, Larner! Frodo's new quilt will go a very long way in helping to heal his broken heart in the days and years to come. It will also become a symbol of sorts to him, of his family's love for him and that he is not alone. This quilt and its making will be something special that Frodo will always remember and treasure. O! I recall reading your story about Pippin's quilt for Aragorn, but now I find that I must go back and reread it again! It's funny. I had written the part with the eagle tale and then about a month later, a commercial for some bank or something came out on tv where a man was writing out a check using a pen twice the size of himself. I laughed! Very true, the great Eagles will one day be a part of Frodo's own adventure. It's too bad he was unconscious though to even have a rememberance of them. As always, thank you for continuing to read and review! ~Elemmírë~

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/14/2006
Ah. I detect the knot in the stomach and the lump in the troat loosening - just a little. Lovely, gentle chapter. Author Reply: Thank you, as always, Harrowcat! I'm glad that lump in your throat is starting to loosen up a bit. I should warn you--do not rid yourself of Bilbo's lended pocket-handkercheif, for there will be tears in the next chapter. However, the final ending will not be so very sad. ~Elemmírë~

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