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

Only a Second or Two  by Larner 11 Review(s)
KittyReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/28/2009
As sad as it is that Primula lost so many children - it's just perfect that these tiny garments now find a purpose, however late, and through someome so dear to Frodo no less!

Author Reply: Yes, indeed just right that these at last come to those who will wear them with pride.

Thank you so, Kitty!

Socrates399Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
That was beautiful!

I've noticed that in fanfiction Primula Brandybuck is often said to have miscarried multiple times. I suppose it is in part because I read Stories of Arda, where (it seems to me) the authors all read and are influenced by one another's work. But is there something in Tolkien to suggest it? I've always been curious about that.

Author Reply: From what we can tell from the Family Trees, Primula was about forty-eight when Frodo was born. If she married around the age of thirty-five or so, that's a fair amount of time to go childless.

I'd already decided to write Primula as having lost children before Frodo's birth and had written it into my first story before I was even aware of the Stories of Arda site, so I definitely didn't pick it up here. I might have read it on FanFiction.net, but I can't remember. Perhaps the idea hit me first due to reading Lindelea's work on FF.n, although I don't remember her ever writing that happening. But I made Primula's penchant toward losing children part of why Frodo as a child had a mild heart murmur, leading to him being nearly protected to death by his Brandybuck relations. BTW, I readily admit I took the idea of Frodo experiencing heart trouble after his return from the quest from Lindelea's Nothing of Note; I only stretched it a bit further than she did.

Multiple miscarriages are not uncommon, and certainly were more common still in earlier centuries. One of my best friend went through nine miscarriages before her OB-GYN called a halt and insisted she needed a hysterectomy due to the physical damage she was going through as a result of carrying so many children to the fifth month and then losing them. Her sister also could not carry children to term, and lost three before she gave in and adopted a little girl. In many ways I was taking M's experiences and applying them to Primula, although I gave her a mere four miscarriages, and having Frodo being about a month and a half early.

For a time it seemed almost de rigeur to see Pippin written as having been born very premature and sickly as a child to explain why he was so much smaller than the others when the journey began. That was one fanon I never subscribed to, myself.

So, to my knowledge there was nothing Tolkien himself wrote to indicate Primula lost other children; but I admit I've not read deeply into Letters as yet.

Thank you so for the question and the comment.

CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
That last word just says it all. : )

Author Reply: Oh, yes--Sam's children will wear the clothing Primula crafted with such love. The closest Frodo came to his own children.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
So grateful that you changed this from a moment that could have been pure poignancy to one of pure joy!

Congrats!

Author Reply: Thanks so, Agape! Am so glad you feel I managed that.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
Awww!

That's beautiful!

The children of his hope - Sam will have many children, and maybe Frodo already knows that.

Frodo knew that he would not be able to stay in Middle Earth, start a family and have children of his own.
So he gave over the "task" to his best friend and heir. He wished for Sam to be whole and happy again and to live fully. And that he did, with the help of his children (and his Rosie, of course).

If Primula had still been there, she would have welcomed every Gamgee child as if it was her own grandchild, I'm sure.

Author Reply: We know that at one point Frodo named off a number of the children Sam would father, and that he gave all he had or might have had, been or might have been to Sam. And I think Sam and Rosie had so many children in part to allow for those children Frodo himself never fathered. As for Primula accepting each of those children as a grandchild of her own, I'm certain you are right.

Thanks so, Andrea.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
What a lovely and loving gift to his brother and his nieces and nephews! Joyful!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Yes, I agree, Antane. Thanks so!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
Aaawww!

Sad and sweet and happy all at once. This is one of your miracle drabbles, I think, one that says everything that needs to be said, just enough to touch deeply without being really involved. "The children of his hope," so sweet! Primula would be happy to know where those clothes went, I think.

Author Reply: I'm so very glad you find it so, my Lady! Yes, the children of his hope, in every meaning of the word!

As for Primula being glad--I do suspect you are right, and that she would consider Sam's children as much her grandchildren as do Lily Cotton and Bell Gamgee.

Thank you so, and hope this helps remove the nasty taste left by the AU you read last night.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
Oh, what a lovely gift of hope for Sam and Rosie!
More please,
Lynda

Author Reply: I'm so glad you find it so, Lynda. Thank you so very much!

CairistionaReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
Ah, very sweet! Sam and Rosie will indeed put all those baby clothes to good use.

Author Reply: Oh, yes--if anyone will be able to do so, it will be Sam and Rosie!

Thank you so, Cairistiona.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 27 on 3/27/2009
the children of his hope

That's a beautiful thought.

Author Reply: I'm so glad you find it so, Shirebound. To Sam he left all he'd owned and all he'd been or might have been, including being the father he now could never be.

Thank you so!

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List