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Sweet Farewell by GamgeeFest	8 Review(s)
nancylea57	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/16/2008
soldiers off to war, leave them smiling on the doorstep, paraying you'll come home safe. Author Reply: No one is smiling but they are certainly hoping to return to their beloved Shire by the end. We know they will, but the uncertainy is their burden to bear.

lovethosehobbits	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/8/2007
Oh this was so bittersweet and lovely. I loved the depiction of Merry and his first love, but felt so bad for him when it was over. We've all been through that and I understood how crushed he was. Lovely, really. Author Reply: Thank you! Merry has since come to terms with the break up, but at the time he was undoubtedly crushed. He's had a bad streak of luck with the lasses, but we know he'll end up with Estella in the end. Bittersweet though it may be, he would never begrudge Willow her happiness and he can now go forward with the Quest knowing that both his lasses are going to be taken care of.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/1/2007
This was a beautiful look at the relationship between Merry and Willow - such a pity that class came between them. Also very touching to see Sam and hear about his relationship with Rosie. You also captured that tension which must have been present as they prepared to leave the Shire, not knowing if they would ever return and unable to tell anyone where they were going or why. Gave me goosebumps! Author Reply: There are some things that simply cannot be overcome, no matter how much they might have wished otherwise. The class difference wasn't the only thing getting in their way, but it certainly was one of the major factors. Willow might have even privately agreed with her father about getting above her station. And even when there is no class difference, our lads have other issues when it comes to their lasses, as Sam demonstrates so perfectly. They aren't exactly free to give their hands, not with the Quest looming in the very near future. The timing of this story certainly set the mood of angst. I imagine that Frodo wasn't the only one looking around at everything as though he were never going to see it again. They all would be saying their own good-byes and Merry here was taking everything in almost as though he wanted to commit everything to memory even while coming to terms with the love he lost to her new family. Thanks so much for reading! Author Reply: Me again. Don't know if anyone's contacted you yet or not, but one of your stories has been nominated for the MEFAs and they've been looking for you. You can email them at mefasupport( at)gmail( dot)com. Congrats!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/1/2007
That was lovely. I really enjoyed Merry talk with his lost love. It seems very fitting that someone like Merry would need to tie things up properly before being satisfied. I also think it is very like him to need to know that she was happy. Great story! Author Reply: Merry simply couldn't have walked off into the unknown without resolving things with Willow. He would want to know that she is happy and to ensure her that he holds no ill feelings towards her. He can go forward with a clear conscious now, and not worry quite so much about how things are going back home. Thanks for reading!

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2007
Oh how sweetly bitter-sweet GF. Lovely. Author Reply: Thank you Harrowcat! This is rather angsty than I intended, but it really couldn't have been any other way given the timeframe. I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2007
That was beautifully written, GamgeeFest! So, that's what happened to Merry and Willow! They would have been the perfect couple, but maybe too perfect! I'm a little sad that it didn't work out, but on the other hand I'm glad that they were able to have this important conversation, and to have the assurance that they both found happiness in their later life. And, of course, I recognised "golf"! Merry will get his revenge, he has just to wait a little longer ;-) Author Reply: Thank you Andrea! It was hard having to break up Merry and Willow. I really became quite fond of them as a couple, but even I, bearer of the Almighty Pen, can't ignore all the pragmatic obstacles to their relationship. Besides, canon dictates that Merry will end up with Estella. Merry couldn't have gone on a quest full of so many unknowns without resolving his relationship with Willow. She is much to important to him, and he loves her still after all this time, and he simply couldn't have left things the way they were. He will be able to go forward with much more ease and peace of mind knowing this his lass (both of them actually) are safe and happy in the Shire. Merry will be getting his victory much sooner than he thinks, and in the most unlikely of places. I'm sure he would have stopped by after the Quest to tell Willow all about it! ;)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2007
OH! GF this was such a lovely birthday gift! Poor Merry! I loved your descriptions of his feelings as he took his walk. The flashback to his relationship with Willow was so bittersweet. I knew almost as soon as you described the fact that they'd not met one another's family what would break them up. I don't believe that Saradoc or Esmeralda would have had any objection to Willow, but like the Gaffer, I thought it was fairly clear that Willow's family might not feel the same way: they'd think that she was trying to go "above her station", and be fearful that Merry would "look down" at them. (All this of course, without ever having laid eyes on him.) And when she was uncomfortable with the idea of his going to meet them when the perfect opportunity arose, I was sure of it. Yet for all it's sadness, I can see why Merry would not regret his courtship of her--she was not only an object of romance, but a friend he could unburden to, things he might not even want to share with Frodo or Pippin. He doesn't really know it yet, but he has a destiny ahead of him (and I don't mean just Master of Buckland), and like Sam, he has to be free of commitments in order to fulfill it. In the end, he will end up with the one he really loves--Estella. But that's all in the future, and makes no difference to his sad feelings now. I'd been re-reading "In the Bleak, Cold Winter" in preparation to writing my review of it, so this was all very fresh in my mind. I wonder what happens to Willow and her husband during the Troubles? (0ops! I'm feeding Squiggy again grin) Thank you for the lovely gift!!! ((((((hugs)))))))))) Author Reply: (((hugs back))) You're welcome, DF! The Brandybucks would have been happy to have someone like Willow in the family. She would have been, as Merry stated, an excellent Lady of Buckland, but as so often happens, those in the gentry don't always see the class barriers as well as those in the working class. Or rather, they see them, they just don't understand how difficult they are to break through. Merry and Frodo have a much better understanding of this than most gentry, given their friendship with Sam. Willow's family is very much like the Gamgees: don't get mixed up in the affairs of your betters. It's understandable why Willow wishing to become a healer caused such scandal, as she would be required by her position to get mixed up in the affairs of her betters. With time, they would be able to make peace with that as a matter of professional obligation, though it is to be noted that her father still wanted her to come home to the hills and be the healer for the common folk. They might have accepted it, but they still don't agree with it. They would have never consented to her marrying one of the gentry, much less the Heir of Buckland. Their fears, combined with Willow's, in addition to all their other problems, made for a bad match pragmatically, even if they were suitable to each other romantically. Merry still loves her though, and she still loves him. They might regret how it ended, but neither one of them can truly regret their time together. And just as you said, Merry could tell her things he wouldn't necessarily tell to Frodo or Pippin, and through her he was able to learn that lasses are more than just objects of fancy or good kissing partners. Even now, he can still unburden himself to her, even if he never comes out to say what exactly is weighing on his mind. I think though that Merry might have some inkling of how important it is that he accompany Frodo, beyond just protecting his cousin, that he has "something to do before the end". He may not know or understand what that 'something' is just yet but he would understand on some instictive level that only he can do it. At the least, he does realize how important it is that he be without obligations. It would be one of the major reasons he is now grateful that things never went "too far" between him and Willow. ;) Squiggy will get right to work on Willow/Corbin for you. Actually, I've been meaning to post the next "chapter" of EOTW to my lj. I really do need to get cracking on that again. (sighs)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2007
I'm glad Willow is happy now, yet regret it didn't go further. But we know that Merry and Estella found their own happiness in the end, although I find somehow I grieve for Gordi. And again you worked in the golf! How wonderful! And we know Merry did eventually manage to best Frodo! Heh! Author Reply: I would have loved to make it work out for those two, but canon prevented it. Merry will end up with Estella, which does mean some more sadness for poor Gordi. I will have to ensure that he ends up with a suitable lass for him. ;) I have never before noticed how much Golf is overlooked in fan fiction until I wrote "Fore!" It just seems wrong now that it isn't mentioned more often. Expect it to sneak into future stories as I attempt to reticfy this situation. ;D Merry does indeed get his victory, and in the most unlikely of places. :)

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