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In Darkness Buried Deep by GamgeeFest	138 Review(s)
Julie	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/25/2005
That was lovely. The part with Frodo and the River was such a bittersweet and yet also a heat-touchingly beautiful scene. I especially liked how important it was to Frodo that Sara and Esme be there with him for support and for dealing with their own grief as well in a way. The way you developed Frodo and Edon's budding friendship was also very well done. As always, I eagerly await more! Author Reply: Frodo knew he couldn't have gone through with his plan without Esme and Sara there with him. That he asked for them to come, though he still didn't really let them in on what he had in mind, was a big step forward in his relationship with them. Yet just like everyone else, they still have a long way to go to forming a mutual and fully open and trusting relationship. It will require a lot of work, and thankfully, they all seem up for the challenge. Frodo's first encounter with the River was not going to be easy, but it wasn't as horrible as he feared it would be. Memories were stirred and heartaches remembered, but he was able to let go in the end. He's beginning to heal at last. Good has come from bad, ten-fold. Frodo, Edon and Gil will share a special bond after all that's happened. Though their lives will take them in several different directions, they will always remember this time fondly.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/25/2005
A sad, gentle, and necessary letting go. Glad he could come to this. Thank you. Author Reply: It's been a learning and growing experience for everyone, most especially for Frodo. He's been needing to accept the truth of his parents death, and twice now he's spoken the words out loud. With that acceptance, he can finally move forward with the grieving process and let them go. He'll now be able to go on with his life, though it won't always be easy.

Lotrgirl1415	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/24/2005
I love this story and shall be sad to see it go. Will there be a prequel? Also...I love fanfics like this one; do you have any recommendations? Lots of love, --Katie Author Reply: I do have a prequel in mind, but I don't know when it will be written. The muses have been rather quiet of late, and there are also other stories in progress and/or waiting for posting. If you haven't discovered "The River" by Indigo Bunting yet, you should check that one out. There's some good Sam and Legolas angst in that one. I'm glad you've enjoyed this story so much. It always makes me happy to know that. I've appreciated your reviews. Just one more update to go with this story, but as I said, there will be more stories coming.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/24/2005
A very nice chapter, as you begin to tie up loose ends. Edon's taken his punishment well, and learned what he needed to learn from it. I like that Piper took her time to think it over, and the way she went back to him. I wonder if they will end up in Branbourne or in Buckland? I rather knew what Frodo was making and why--and it seemed only fitting. And now he has more or less made his peace with the River--though I think it may still come back from time to time. I'll be sorry to see an end of it, though. I've been enjoying it so very much. Author Reply: Edon's starting to grow up at last. He's realized that his actions have consequences and that he needs to take that into consideration before he acts. His lessons in humility, though a bit harsh, were no less than what he deserved and what he needed to, well, get over himself. Piper's practical if nothing else. That cloak will be rather like his scarlet letter, but he'll wear it with honor rather than shame. Wherever they eventually end up, they'll be happy enough. I can see them making a go of it in either place, but only time will really tell. Frodo's finally "helped" his parents and in doing so, has put some closure on their deaths. He will never completely come to peace with his loss, but he will be able to face the River from here on out and sleep in peace for awhile. Thanks again for reading!

Lotrgirl1415	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/23/2005
awww! wipes tear I loved Frodo and Gil's conversation, it made me feel all sad-ish then warm/gooey.. love the story hun --Katie Author Reply: Thank you! I'm glad you're still enjoying it. Frodo and Gil had quite the heart to heart didn't they? Exactly what the two of them needed. Thanks for reviewing!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/22/2005
Wonderful! Sorrow expressed, griefs amended, forgiveness granted, frienships on the way to being restored. Good is coming out of ill, and wholeness out of brokenness now that Frodo has come out of the forest. Even when he was but a child, and one who felt lost much of the time, Frodo was still a good influence on those around him. Author Reply: There is good and bad to everything and the bad is finally being balanced by the good. Everyone will come away from this experience wiser for it. Frodo has a way of bringing out the best in people (S-Bs not included, lol). While he doesn't really change too much over the years - he becomes wiser and more confident but everything else remains more or less the same - the people around him are greatly affected by his influence. How else can it be explained that he had so many fiercely loyal friends? Thanks for reading this and for your reviews! I appreciate them all. :)

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/22/2005
I'm glad Gil has made his peace with Frodo - and what he says is sensible. Avoiding the brainless praise of the young is a good thing, too - and probably makes Menegilda think more highly of him. I'm pleased he's made his peace with Edon, too - although I don't know if it's a particularly good idea for him to go back to his grandfather. But only time will tell! Frodo seems better - and more at ease. Gil's suggestion for laying the ghosts, and his comments on what Frodo's parents would want are probably heard by the youngster all the better for coming from someone little older than he is. Author Reply: Gil has quite gotten over his need for praise from his peers. He craved the attention and admiration after his return from Pincup, but he's seen now that such things must be earned, and that true courage doesn't boast. Edon needs to find himself again, and the only way he can truly do that is to return home. He's never really thought of Buckland as "home" and he's always felt more than a bit adrift there. But perhaps his return home will only be a temporary one itself. There is Piper to consider, after all. Time truly will be the determining factor here. It so often happens with children, that they can hear their parents/guardians tell them something a hundred times and pay it no heed, yet as soon as one of their peers tells them the same thing, suddenly the advice is taken to heart. Sometimes, it does just take someone else closer to a child's age to tell them what they need to hear. Gil reaffirming what Saradoc and Esmeralda (and Frodo's parents) said will help to solidify that for Frodo. Thanks so much for reading and for all your wonderful reviews! I enjoyed them all. :)

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/22/2005
I was fascinated by the conversation between Frodo and Gil. Gil obviously has experienced a lot of bad things in life himself to know so well what Frodo must be feeling. He choses his answers very carefully and each fits! And Frodo realizes that there is someone who really understands him. In the words of the famous movie "Casablanca": "The beginning of a beautiful friendship." ;-) The same is true for the renewed friendship between Edon and Gil. And I must say, I'm proud of Edon. It takes a lot to make such an announcement in front of all inhabitants of Brandy Hall. Author Reply: Gil has always been quite popular amongst his family, the Hall's "Golden Child" as Edon called him. It was very hard on him to then be displaced and have everyone think so ill of him - for something he didn't even do. He has his own courage, to be able to return to that environment and not let his feelings of bitterness keep him from proving to everyone that he was indeed a trustworthy lad. He couldn't keep those feeling hidden when it came to Edon though, and understandably so. In that way, Frodo was able to help Gil just as much as Gil was able to help Frodo. Frodo's easy forgiveness made quite an impression. A beautiful friendship indeed. Edon and Gil's friendship will likely be all the stronger now, if they can manage to get past the trust issues. It seems they will be able to accomplish that without too many problems, though it will take time. Edon has learned a lot himself these past couple of weeks, including how to take responsibility for his own actions. Menegilda's punishment for him will be a very humbling experience for him (Gil wasn't the only one suffering from a large head, lol). Thanks for reading and for your many wonderful comments. :)

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/22/2005
Ah, trust renewed through honesty. Great stuff and I loved all of it! Author Reply: Amazing, isn't it, what a little honesty - and the willingness to forgive - can do. Thanks so much for following this. Your reviews have been wonderful to read. :)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/22/2005
“Look who’s here,” Esmeralda called as she entered the near silent sick room. Frodo looked up from his book, which he was only half-reading while Talia went about making more of her teas. Esmeralda had Merry in her arms, and the little bairn near jumped out of her arms when he saw Frodo. Frodo grinned. “Hullo Merry-mine,” he said and lifted his arms as Esme settled the bairn onto his lap. Frodo bounced Merry a little and smiled like a fool as Merry reached out with grabbing hands. “Phhff!” Merry replied. He gurgled happily and reached up to pat Frodo’s face and play with his curls. “Do you want to hear a story?” Frodo asked, ignoring a rather painful tug at his hair. Merry shrieked his answer, so Frodo went back to his book, starting at the beginning though he knew it made no difference to Merry. sighmelts into puddle of happy goo* I just loved that, you know. I also liked the conversation between Gil and Frodo. Frodo's always been a bit wiser for his years in a number of ways, and Gil has thought long and hard over his experience, and gained some hard-earned wisdom of his own. They each are able to say what the other needs to hear. And I loved your little tale of the Fell Winter. Was that widow perhaps an ancestress of Gil's? It would explain why he took it so much to heart. And the talk with Edon went very well indeed. I like to think Frodo's parting words about anger helped Gil to gain perspective. Otherwise, even with his confession, it might have made things more difficult for Edon. I'm glad that they will be able to patch up their friendship. This has been a great story so far. I'm rather sorry to see it winding down. Author Reply: LOL, I hoped you would enjoy that. Not exactly a reunion, but it was the best I could do with what this chapter needed to accomplish. ^_^ Gil and Frodo both had lessons to learn, which they could have only learned from each other. Gil has been the subject of scorn and mistrust, as well as abandonment and betrayal. While that may be a bit above what Frodo has experienced in some ways, and below it in others, those experiences made Gil the most likely to understand where Frodo was coming from. And since they were both coming from relatively similar places, Frodo's insights rang just as true for Gil as Gil's did for Frodo. Gil is just a story teller, lol. Another trait that will help bond Frodo and him in friendship. Frodo's parting words certainly had a lot to do with it. No doubt, Gil was repeating them to himself over and over again as he and Edon were walking out to that tree, if only to keep himself from snapping at him again. Gil had a part in the break up of the friendship, though an unconscious one. His popularity, while being one of the traits that appealed to Edon, is also what caused Edon to feel so uncertain of himself. If Gil had been able to realize this before it became a problem, things might have gone differently from the get-go. Now that everything is out in the open, or will be soon, they can wipe the slate clean and start over fresh. (And it also helps that Fuchsia is out of the way too. ~_^ ) Only two more updates to come. Thanks for reading this and again for all your wonderful reviews. They've helped me to keep on ticking with this, even when I was in doubt. :)

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