Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Hope's Endurance  by Kara's Aunty 6 Review(s)
AndreaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/14/2008
Hi Maureen,

gerne darfst Du meinen Limerick benutzen! Aber gegenüber Deinen Gedichten war meins doch eher simpel.

In other words: Of course you can :)

Author Reply: Toll, toll, toll!

M :)

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/14/2008
Wow! Both of these poems were marvellous!

I saw the GTL (nice word) at once and it fit in so perfectly that I had to stop and admire it :) It looked so easy, but I'm quite sure it wasn't.
In my opinion the metre is not so important (as you might have guessed from my first attempt at writing a limerick).

So, thank you very much for posting!

Author Reply: Hello Andrea!

I'm so pleased you enjoyed both the poems. Trying to capture these moments between the two can be a little difficult at imes, if I'm searching for a word that will have something (sensible) to rhyme with it and still stay in meter.

And if I can accomodate a GTL into the stanza - as long as it doesn't throw the meter off too much - then all the better! So thank you for admiring it!

And thank you very much for posting a review. They are always gratefully received!

Bis bald,

Msureen :)

P.S. Ist es schon in ordnung wenn ich dein limerick benütze?

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/14/2008
A delicate joy to read.

A bit movie-moment here, I see, as in book-verse Sam understands from the moment he sees they are joining the Elves heading westward just where Frodo is going--not to Rivendell to remain there, but to the Havens and beyond.

The inclusion of that GTL was perfect--don't worry about it!

Have been working in my head on such a dialogue--actually, more a monologue, actually. When it comes to be written I hope it pleases you. But I have so MANY stories going at the moment! Aargh!

Author Reply: Hello, Larner,
thanks for your feedback - it's always welcome.

Actually, this is not supposed to be movie-based at all. When I wrote it I had just read the bit in ROTK where Sam & Frodo come upon the Elves and Bilbo, who awakes from a nap and upon seeing his nephew says:
'Hullo, Frodo! Well I have passed the Old Took today! So that's settled. And now I think I am quite ready to go on another journey. Are you coming?'

This poem is supposed to start from that moment onwards, as they journey towards and eventually arrive at the Grey Havens, with Sam trying to come to terms with his unexpected loss on the way there.

But if it comes across movie-momentish, then I've obviously put an inappropriate word in somewhere. Oh well, too late to change it now!

It was difficult to write, because their parting is full of such raw emotion. But I am glad you enjoyed reading it nonetheless.

Maureen :)

P.S. Hope your shift passed pleasantly!

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/13/2008
Wow, I wasn't expecting a continuation of this!

Sam realizing that he had to let Frodo go was beautiful--and I am firmly convinced that the reason he did so much living during his life was that he was living for two.

The notion of Frodo setting Sam free by his departure, however, is a lot more subtle and I'm glad you picked up on it. While care for him was a glad burden on Sam, it was a burden nonetheless and would have kept him from achieving all that he was meant to--in other words, I agree with Frodo there.

And good for Frodo to dash short the idea that Sam should follow him right then and there and leave his wife (whom I should add he is sworn to) and daughter behind. Heavens!

I see the "in progress" status on this tale now... what else do you have in store for us?

Author Reply: Hello there,

I had to laugh at this bit: 'Wow, I wasn't expecting a continuation of this!'

Neither was I! But I think the first part put Antane in a happy frenzy and she's been sending me plot bunny pleas ever since, so I relented (she's very persuaaive) and desided to do a four-parter to fit them all in.

There are two left for this particular 'poetic story' and they may both be in the same dialogue format (grimaces slightly - not that I'm not happy about it, but readers may get tired of it rather soon and start tuning out. Still, we'll wait and see what happens.)

Yes, I think Frodo's dependency on Sam was as much a burden (albeit lovingly carried) on our gardener, just as Sam's need for Frodo to get well was a burden on Baggins Jnr. Only their love for each other may have kept the illusion of 'normality' going for as long as it did after the Quest.

Yes, good old Frodo for telling Sam to stay. Not that I think he would have left, because he was married with a wee one and another on the way. I think that was what was tearing him apart - the unexpected situation he found himself in and the fact he knew he couldn't leave his Rose - but couldn't bear to lose his Frodo either. Poor sod!

Anyway, this is turning into the Never Ending Review Reply, so I'll pop off and give you peace.

Hope you liked it!


Maureen :)

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/13/2008
My Sam you show such love for me!
This willingness to set me free


How truly loving.

The Grey Havens make me sad, too, which is why I write so many "happy hobbits in the West" stories. I need them to ease my heart!

Author Reply: Hello Shirebound,

Yes, I find the parting of the two really depressing and usually give any Grey Havens fics a massive body swerve.

Sam's life between parting and reunion I can handle, because he finds his joy again in family. But (and I'm slightly embarrassed to admit it) even their reunion in the West is at times too bittersweet for me because it means their lives are almost over and an era truly dies with them. (Although one of their initial meeting and joy is fine because I know they have a wee while yet before they toddle off to Hobbit Heaven - so if your stories of the West are about happy hobbits, I'll need to give them a once over!).

Perhaps I'm an emotional coward.

I wouldn't have written 'My Dearest Sam' if it were not a request (and I found it emotionally taxing), but if a good few like you enjoy it, it was worth the while.

Thanks (as always) for your kind reviews!

Maureen :)

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/13/2008
Never say never, dear cousin! And I do have the cheekiness of a Took - thank you very much! :) - because I am Pippin in the circle of my friends - Frodo and Sam being already taken.

This is a heartacher for sure and I am just a little teary-eyed which is a tribute to Sam's agony here and to you, but there he is at the end Hope Unquenchable as always. The poor dears, but they will realize after the pain fades at bit, that this is just a physical separation. It will be long before they can hold each other in their arms, but they can always hold one another in their hearts. They aren't really apart.

Looking forward to more! You are too good to me - and to all of us!

Namarie, God bless, Your cheeky cousin :)


Author Reply: Hello Aunty,

Goodness, are you home early today? - that was a fast reply!

Again the pleasure was mine and if you liked it it was worth the work.

I'm sure the bittersweet parting of the two will bring its own rewards to each in the end.

Always a delight to hear from you!

Aunty Mo :)

Return to Chapter List