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Heavy is the Sky  by PSW 10 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/28/2016
This is an interesting set of stories with Sam suffering from the trauma he endured so stoically and lovingly for his master. You don't see many of those - at least I haven't read them but it makes sense he would have some after-effects of their ordeal.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Hello!

Sam is stoic, and he is resilient, and as we know he did well for himself after their return. But I don't think that anyone could go through something like that without needing a period of time to heal and readjust psychologically as well as physically. These things go into making us who we are, and whether the after-effects are severe (like Frodo) or less so, surely they exist regardless. Sam, like Frodo, has good people around him, though... :-)

Thanks so much for reading and for your comments!

gginscReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/21/2016
It is nice to see Sam being cared for this once. He was so faithful to Frodo. I can imagine everyone who went on the quest had some things to overcome when they got back.

Author Reply: Agreed. I love Sam. He is so self-sufficient...but something like what they went through would affect anyone -- even the self-sufficient ones of the bunch. I suspect Aragorn would definitely have been on the lookout with all of them, though, good healer that he is -- no one falls through the cracks. :-)

Thanks so much for reading and for your comments!

dodger-sisterReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2016
There were so many things I liked about this! Sam was so completely in character, it was a delight to read a Sam that was so spot on. Aragon being so calm and attentive, schooling his reactions so as not to cause Sam embarrassment, that was so absolutely the way Aragorn would handle it. Your representation of PTSD, getting the details of it so well done. It really brought Sam's struggle to life and as someone who suffers from PTSD, I certainly appreciate the representation here. I also loved each of the people in Gondor's various reactions to seeing him and I giggled quite a bit at the 'in the garden ' reference. Now I wish for some athelas leafs to lay next to my pillow and help me slip to sleep. It sounds like a lovely way to slumber off!

Author Reply: Thank you! I love Sam, and I love writing him. :-) I'm glad to hear that he turned out well here. I also very much appreciate your comments about the representation of Sam's flashback and related troubles -- it's always useful and good to get such feedback, so thank you for that. As for the athelas..I could definitely use some of that too right now, I totally agree! If only...

I'm so glad to hear you liked it, thanks so much for reading and commenting! :-)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2016
Sam is a stubborn Hobbit? As if the Bagginses weren't among the most stubborn of Hobbits born in the Shire!

Poor Sam--flashbacks, unfortunately, will happen to those who have been through such horrors, and Sam is not less vulnerable than others.


So wonderful to see a Sam-focused hurt/comfort story for a change. Delightful!

Author Reply: Ha! Yes, it is a bit of a pot/kettle thing, isn't it? ;-)

I do enjoy seeing Sam get some good attention -- he's sturdy and steadfast, but everyone needs some help every now and again....

Thanks so much as always for reading and commenting!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/16/2016
I loved this and it had one of my Teitho votes. You capture Same beautifully.

Author Reply: Thank you! I love Sam, and it's so much fun to write him... :-)

I'm happy you enjoyed! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

KathyGReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/16/2016
I love a good Sam H/C Story! Poor Sam walked in his sleep, did he? That must have been most unnerving!

Author Reply: Yes ... especially finding himself so far from where he started out. And of course, he never likes to make a scene, but of course there's no way out of it for him this time. I love Sam, he's such a wonderful character. :-) Thanks so much for reading, and for your comments!

addie71Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/16/2016
This is lovely. It's nice to see Sam being taken care of every once in a while.

Author Reply: Agreed. :-) He's pretty good at staying in the background and looking after himself, but he needs a little love every once in a while too ... Thanks so much for reading and your comments!

ErulisseReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/16/2016
What a delight. I'm so happy Shirebound recommended this. I love the structure as well as the story, the voices are consistent and tailored beautifully to each character, and the examples of PTSD (as it would be called these days) are poignant and so understandable. Wonderful story.

Author Reply: Thank you! I'm happy it was recommended, too :-), and happy you liked it! I had fun writing the different characters throughout -- it's always a challenge to try to make sure people don't all sound the same. And of course, it's so much fun writing Sam ... Thanks so much for reading, and for your comments!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/16/2016
Nice use of limited words. Using them in a sequence let you tell a story and still experience the benefit of the discipline of 200 words, no more, no less. That's a challenge I wouldn't want to try!

Author Reply: It was fun, but I definitely wouldn't want to write everything this way! I kept ending up at about 260 words, and then would have to sit there and cut down -- what words do I *really* want to keep here? It definitely was an exercise in letting go of turns of phrase that I liked, but didn't really *need* ... :-P Thanks so much as always for reading and commenting! :-)

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/16/2016
I love this. Sam so seldom in need of healing, and I'm just insatiable when it comes to Aragorn tending to the hobbits gently and respectfully. *happy*

Author Reply: Yes, Sam just sort of manages to quietly take care of himself and everyone else and comes out mostly all right, doesn't he? But I like to see him get some TLC of his own sometimes, too... I'm happy you liked it, thanks for reading and commenting! :-)

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